Transparency Makes a Difference When Creating a Culture of Safety

Have you ever made a mistake in nursing? Well, I have and want to share my experience, feelings, and outcome. When this happened, all that I kept thinking was, “Did I harm my patient?” Maybe that sounds familiar to you. I think we can all say that we went into nursing to help others, not harm them.

June 06, 2016

Prescription medication

Older Adults May Be Taking Dangerous Medication Combinations

More older adults are taking over-the-counter drugs and supplements with their prescription medications than ever, and as many as 15% of them may be in potentially life-threatening combinations, according to a new study reported in JAMA Internal Medicine.

May 17, 2016

Chemotherapy

Verification Nurses Identify Chemotherapy Order Errors and Improve Patient Safety

In 1995 when a patient died from a chemotherapy overdose at a major medical center, many cancer centers began reexamining their processes for safe chemotherapy administration and putting measures in place to reduce errors.

May 10, 2016

Patient safety

Respecting Hazardous Drugs Protects Nurses, Patients and Eliminates Fear

A recent article on the Scrubs website, “Chemotherapy Drugs are Killing Nurses” shared important facts and concerns regarding the handling of hazardous drugs. It also highlighted the need for comprehensive education and collaboration to establish a culture of safety around the use of these drugs by building respect, not fear, for hazardous drugs in the workplace.

April 18, 2016

Patient safety

Celebrate Patient Safety Week

March 13-19, 2016 marks Safety Awareness Week. It encourages both patients and healthcare professionals to take a role in promoting patient safety. This is an appropriate message, because it takes everyone working together to make care as safe as possible for patients, families, and the healthcare professionals who provide this care.

March 13, 2016

Hazardous oncology drugs safe handling guidelines

Policies and procedures

New Hazardous Drug Safe Handling Guidelines May Require Changes for Your Practice

Healthcare workers who prepare and administer hazardous drugs have further incentive to follow the recommended precautions with the February 1, 2016, release of the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention Chapter 800. Find out more about these recommended precautions.

March 01, 2016

Patient safety

Recognizing Smart Catches All Day, Every Day

Great catch, near miss, smart catch—they all mean the same thing: someone protected a patient from harm during care. These healthcare gems happen 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by every discipline in every healthcare setting, yet we rarely celebrate them. Why? Because health care is supposed to be safe. We're supposed to be highly reliable. We are supposed to heal and not harm. It's a must.

February 26, 2016

Patient safety

Evaluating Security in the Outpatient Setting

It has been a little over a year since cardiologist Dr. Michael J. Davidson, 44, was shot and killed at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. He was murdered during the day by the son of a patient he treated who had died a few months prior to the shooting. I remember that day well. I was working in my clinic and all of us wondered, “How could this happen? And could it happen in our clinic?” I like to think that all of our patients and families are thankful and appreciative for all we do for them, but unfortunately that isn't always the case.

February 24, 2016

Nurse self-care

Using the I'M SAFE Method to Create a Culture of Safety

Clinical environments demonstrating a strong culture of safety have optimized communication and teamwork among front-line staff, physicians, and leadership. A safe work environment is one in which the physical health and well-being of all staff are considered prerequisite for safe patient care. Consider for a moment the ways your workplace supports healthy behaviors on the part of employees.

February 19, 2016

Patient safety

Fostering a Culture of Safety: Is Less Really More From the Patient Perspective?

There is currently a huge focus on patient safety. It's not just in the news and literature. It pervades the clinical environment. I'm currently spending my days between two major teaching hospitals and an outpatient cancer institute, all in Boston, MA. Some of the safety concerns I have encountered just in the past week include

February 18, 2016

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

What You Wear Matters When It Comes to Safety

“Hey, you didn’t dress up for me today. Where’s your pretty blue dress?”

At first I wasn’t sure what the patient in the chemotherapy chair was talking about. After a moment, I realized the patient was referring to the blue safety gowns we wear. I heard the infusion nurse respond as she removed the chemotherapy from the hazard bag, “Oh yeah, I’m kind of in a hurry today.”

While the patient could possibly benefit from the chemotherapy, for the nurse that same drug posed a serious hazard.

February 14, 2016

Patient safety