What is the main cause of injuries during the adolescent period?
Motor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of serious and fatal accidents during adolescence, especially if alcohol or drug use is involved.
Based on your theoretical knowledge and the scant patient data you have, why do you think Teresa's toddler (Meet Your Patients, in Volume 1 of your textbook) is at risk for accidents? What about Teresa's grandmother?
The toddler and grandmother have the following risks for accidents:
Toddler. You have the theoretical knowledge that toddlers are
typically active and curious and that their motor skills advance
faster than their judgment and ability to recognize danger. You have
the data that Teresa's toddler is typical in this respect: "into
everything." You also have Teresa's statement that it is becoming
difficult for her to provide enough supervision for the toddler.
Grandmother. You have the theoretical knowledge that older
adults often have motor and sensory losses that increase their risk
for accidents. You have the patient data that Teresa's grandmother has
a mobility problem (recovering from hip fracture) and that she is
afraid of falling.
What are some ways that the aging process makes the older adult more prone to injury?
The aging process can result in physiological changes that can create changes in strength and gait stability. Some adults experience sensory losses, particularly hearing and vision.
What are the most common poisonous agents ingested by children?
The following poisonous agents are most commonly ingested by children:
Household cleansers, including oven cleaner, drain cleaner,
toilet bowl cleaner, and furniture polish
Medicines, including cough and cold preparations, vitamins, pain
medications, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and iron tablets, which
to children may look like candies
Indoor house plants, including poinsettia, dieffenbachia,
philodendron, and many others
Cosmetics, hair relaxer, nail products, mouthwash
Pesticides
Kerosene, gasoline, lighter fluid, paint thinner, lamp oil,
antifreeeze, windshield washer fluid, lighter fluid, and other chemicals
Alcoholic beverages
Wild plants and mushrooms
Pesticides, rodent poisons
Name one source of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
Any of the following sources can cause CO poisoning:
The burning of fuel, such as wood, oil, gasoline, natural gas,
kerosene, and coal
A faulty furnace
Buildup of CO in an unventilated garage when a car is running
Other consumer products include lawn mowers, charcoal grills,
gas water heaters, camp stoves or lanterns, and gas ranges or ovens.
Many unintentional deaths occur during cold weather among older adults
and poor who seek out nonconventional heat sources (e.g., gas ranges
and ovens) to stay warm.
What are the major causes of injuries from MVAs (motor vehicle accidents)?
The following are major causes of motor-vehicle-related accidents:
Improper use of seat belts and car seats
Injury from air bags deployed when children are riding in the
front seat
List at least three tips for preventing food poisoning.
Any of the following tips would prevent food poisoning:
Never eat any food that has an "off" odor or that
might be spoiled.
Never use a cutting board, knife, or other object that was used
to prepare meat, poultry, or fish for any other purpose until it has
been thoroughly washed in hot, soapy water.
Eat only meats that are fully cooked.
Refrigerate foods promptly after meals.
Observe sanitation reports for selection of eating
establishments in the community.
Don't store food in decorative containers unless labeled safe
for food; some crystal and pottery have a high lead content.
Imported folk remedies, such as "greta," used by some
Hispanic patients for colic, may be contaminated with lead.
List three sources of noise pollution.
Sources of noise pollution include road traffic, jet planes, garbage trucks, construction equipment, lawn mowers, and loud music.
What is a typical cause of fire in healthcare facilities?
Fire in healthcare facilities is typically related to anesthesia or electrical causes.
What measures should you take, and in what order, if a fire occurs in the hospital?
First rescue the patient—move the patient(s) away from the area. Then sound the alarm and then attempt to confine the fire, if that is practical.
What measures can healthcare workers use to reduce exposure to radiation?
The following measures reduce a worker's exposure to radiation:
Remember time, distance, and shielding.
Organize nursing care to limit the amount of time with the patient.
Perform near the patient only the nursing care that is
absolutely necessary.
Wear protective shielding, if available.
Never deliver care without wearing a film badge.
What safety measures help reduce equipment-related injuries in the healthcare facility?
The following measures help reduce equipment-related injuries:
Seek advice if you are unsure how to operate the equipment.
Make sure medical equipment has been properly inspected.
Be alert to signs that the equipment is not functioning properly.
Make sure that rooms are not cluttered with equipment.
Follow agency policies regarding equipment brought from the
patient's home (e.g., hair dryers, electric shavers, radios); usually
these should be inspected for proper grounding and safe cords.
Which assessment tool would you use for a slightly confused home care client to assess her ability to safely live alone and perform activities of daily living?
The Safety Assessment Scale (SAS) primarily evaluates whether the cognitively impaired person is capable of cooking, taking her own medicines, shopping, and performing other activities of daily living.
List the six risk factors that are assessed on the Morse Fall Scale
The following six risk factors are assessed on the Morse Fall Scale:
Whether the patient has a history of falling
Whether the person has more than one medical diagnosis
Whether the person uses ambulatory aids, such as crutches or a walker
Whether the person has an IV or a heparin lock
Whether the person's gait is normal, stooped, or otherwise impaired
The person's mental status
Identify four safety measures that decrease the risk of scalds or burns in the child
The following safety measures decrease the risk of burns for children:
Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove.
Place guardrails in front of radiators and fireplaces.
Avoid warming infant formula and food in the microwave.
Always check the temperature of the formula and food carefully
before giving it to the child.
Stress the danger of open flames to the child.
Always check bath water temperature for children, and set water
heater temperature low enough to prevent scalds.
Have children wear protective clothing and sunscreen when outside.
What are some specific activities that reduce the possibility of fires in the home?
The following specific activities reduce the possibility of fires:
Never leave burning candles unattended.
Store matches and cigarettes in a locked area.
Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors throughout
the house.
Place extinguishers in the
kitchen and workshop area.
As a nurse, what can you do to help prevent injuring your back?
To prevent injury to your back, consistently use assistive devices when moving patients in and out of bed, use good body mechanics, and get help when moving patients or lifting heavy objects.
What are some important developmental considerations when providing a safe environment for a preschool child?
The preschooler is less prone to falls than the toddler, but other types of injuries increase because preschooler play includes more outside activities. Supervision of outside play, such as on playground equipment, is important. Safety must be stressed when playing near streets.
How should you screen older adults to see if they need a comprehensive falls evaluation?
Use the Get Up and Go test, and possibly the Timed Up and Go test if indicated
List two things a person who works around workplace toxins can do to prevent bringing them into the home.
The following safety measures help prevent bringing workplace toxins
into the home:
Remove work clothing and shower, preferably in an open-air
shower, before leaving work. If facilities for showering are not
available, patient advocacy may be appropriate. Before entering their
homes, exposed workers who have not showered should remove their
clothing. Then they should shower immediately. When handling
contaminated clothes or objects, they should wear gloves to reduce the
risk of skin transmission. Laundering may not be effective in removing
certain toxins in clothes.
What specific safety measures would you discuss with a mother to prevent choking in her 9-month-old child?
The following safety measures prevent choking in young children:
Inspect toys for small, removable parts.
Store plastic bags away from young children in a secure place.
Avoid giving the child large, round chunks of meat, such as
whole hot dogs.
Refrain from giving child hard candy, chewing gum, nuts,
popcorn, grapes or marshmallows, or peanuts.