A. Discuss how an understanding of nursing-sensitive indicators could assist the nurses in this case in identifying issues that may interfere with patient care.
An understanding of nursing sensitive indicators would assist all nurses in identifying the underlying problem that has the potential to cause patient harm and a negative patient outcome. In this case, the redden area was an indication that the patient is at risk for developing a pressure ulcer in that area. Actions such as repositioning the patient to relive pressure to the area would prevent further development of bed sores or pressure ulcers. Range of motion would be increased and prevent strain on the patient and decrease the likelihood of a pressure ulcer if the restraints were removed. The CNA replaced the restraints while the daughter was in the room which was not necessarily appropriate. If there is family at bedside and able to reorient the patient and prevent them from getting out of bed, there is no need to place the restraints on them when family is a bedside.
Nursing sensitive indicators also including staffing, skill level of those nurses, as well as the nurse’s job satisfaction. The skill level of nurses on staff greatly affect the care patients receive. If the staffing is full of new nurses without experience small details may be missed that may be indicators for underlying problems. Understaffing may result in patients’ needs being delayed and put patients at higher risk. IF there is no staff to help an elderly patient to the restroom she may attempt to ambulate without assistance, this could result in a hospital fall and possibly injuries. B. Analyze how hospital data on specific nursing-sensitive indicators (such as incidence of pressure ulcers and prevalence of restraints) could advance quality patient care throughout the hospital.
Data regarding hospital prevalence of