This includes skin assessment of risk for pressure ulcers and infections of wounds.• Level of awareness: impairs the patient’s ability to communicate signs of healing or worsening conditions. This relates to how the patient communicates with the nurse and possible interventions related to sedation and lack of consciousness, if applicable• Critical condition: patients in critical condition require a great deal of care and should be monitored more closely for changes in condition.• Mental state: those with impaired mental ability will also require more individualized care to provide safety when they are unable to make sound decisions for themselves.Patient Rights for Medication Administration• Right patient - nurses should take steps to accurately identify the correct patient to receive medication before administering it.• Right Medication - nurses should take steps to accurately identify the correct medication to be received before administering it to the patient.

• Right dose - nurses should take steps to accurately identify the correct dosage of medication before administering it to the patient.• Right Route - nurses should take steps to accurately identify the correct route the patient is to receive the medication before administering it.• Right Time - nurses should take steps to administer medication in a timely fashion as ordered by the physician.• Right Documentation - nurses should take steps to accurately document the medication administration after administering it.Hygiene and Cleanliness• Hand washing - nurses should wash their hands or use a hand sanitizer before and after each patient interaction. Patient's Role:It is required that nurses and other hospital staff members wash or sanitize their hands upon entering and leaving your room to reduce spread of infection.Three things patients should ask themselves to ensure their safety while staying at the hospital:1.) Why am I at the hospital?2.) What is my treatment?

3.)Why should I have this treatment?Importance of Questions:• Patients should always ask questions if they do not understand something.• The health care team should keep patients informed and educated regarding the patient's care.• Do not feel scared to the call light.• Patients can ask for a written form of information including explanations about your procedure, illness, health, etc. For example, you can ask to see your medical records.Medications:• The nurses must always check the patient's wrist band before giving medications or treatments.• Patients should ask questions about the medications they are receiving when they don't understand something.• Ask if there are any side effects to be aware of.• Know if the medication will change mental and physical functioning• Bring a list of home medications: over the counter medications, herbal, vitamins and/or supplements for the health care staff to put in the chart.

Personal Issues:• Individuals have the right to daily personal cleanliness and clean sheets/blankets.• Patients should leave any and all valuables such as: wallets, money, jewelry, etc that they do not want lost at home OR request them to be locked up.• Patients should inform staff of any physical or mental changes, no matter how minor they may be, as soon they occur.Importance of Plan of Care:• Patients should know what the plan of care the health care staff have planned for them and if it matches their wishes.• Cooperation is important to the patient's plan of care.• Patients should not adjust dressing changes, IV’s, or any type of treatment without consulting the nurse. These regimens have a purpose.• Patients should follow the plan of care that is recommended after they leave the hospital. Errors:How do mistakes happen?In order to prevent errors in health care settings, it may be helpful to understand how those errors occur.

Patient Safety And Nursing
Nurses are knowledge workers whose main responsibility is to provide safe and effective care within constantly evolving health care systems. Nurses collaborate with one another, as well as doctors, aides and technicians, to provide holistic care to patients. Although advocating for patient safety is a nurse's role, it is also necessary for the patient to be an active participant in their safety. Patient safety is a collaborative goal that requires concerted efforts from the patient and all members of the health care team. It is also a means to foster communication between the patient and the nurse including other health care members to better patient's health. Nurse's Role:“Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations” (ANA, 2003).

The nursing method is the basis of all clinical judgments and includes all dealings made by nurses in providing care to patients. Considerations for culture, safety, education, health and wellness, patient care, self-health promotion, and planning for long-term health maintenance are included in nursing measures. (Potter et al, 2005).Recent changes in this profession have:- Increased the role to provide greater focus on primary care to emphasize prevention and maintenance of health- A more whole person (including spiritual, physical, and mental components) approach to health care (Potter et al., 2005)- Including detection and intervention when a breakdown in care occurs in order ?to reduce adverse effects or events for patients (Ebright, Patterson, Chalko & Render, 2005).Nurses perform clinical decision-making using the nursing process as a framework. Overall, it is a problem-solving activity focusing on recognizing and defining patient issues and selecting appropriate interventions (Ebright et al., 2005).

Critical ThinkingAccording to the Ebright et al. (2005), several factors related to safety influence a nurse’s ability to make logical and accurate decisions:o Knowledge baseo Attentiono Barriers to care (like workplace obstacles)o Number of taskso Missing essential informationo Behaviors not encouraging of productive thoughtComplexity of nurse workDue to the increasingly complex nature of the role of nurses, everyday nursing duties are also a challenge in protecting the safety of every patient. Ebright et al (2005) found the following factors related to safety of delivering patient care:o Variety of supply locationso Locating supplies when not found in designated areas or not adequately stockedo Repetitive travel (to patient’s rooms, nurse’s stations, supply locations, etc.)o Unexpected situations, interruptions and distractionso Pauses to wait for system services (computers or medication carts)o Inadequate resource access for further care and new procedureso Miscommunicationo Errors due to handwriting and labelingPatient factors and safetyThese are some of the areas of which nurses are responsible for that are significant in ensuring patient safety in a hospital setting:Nursing Assessments• Mobility: affects patient’s ability to move independently and control body movement.