Health Care Environment: The BSN program outcome of health care environment advocates for improving health care across the continuum of health care environments (FSU, 2012). Environmental safety is a very big piece of the patient safety picture. If we as nursing professionals remain diligent in maintaining a safe environment for our patients, this will have a positive effect on patient outcomes. Not only is the care the patient receives done more proficiently with less errors, but nurses themselves will have an environment that promotes and encourages safe care for both the nurse and for the patient. We need to strive to create an environment that sets us up for success and does not contribute to a poor outcome. We also contribute to healthy working environments by being respectful and polite to our patients and coworkers.
In order to best help our patients on their journey towards health, it is important to do a full assessment including positive aspects of their health and also areas of opportunity. By understanding the full picture and the environment influencing a patients behavior, nurses are able to better partner with that patient and work together on setting goals to promote health and well-being. One example of that partnership is my work with a patient completing a real age health promotion paper. For this, I identified a patient who was ready to make some positive changes for his health. A full assessment was completed to determine areas of strengths and also areas in need of improvement. External influences contributing to some of the barriers being experienced by the patient were also addressed. By fully incorporating external influences and environmental barriers into the care plan for this patient, goals were easier to identify and execute by the patient. This highlighted to me the importance of considering the patients environment when helping patient make healthy changes.
Real Age Risk Reduction Paper
realagehealthpromotionpaper.docx
A second example of creating an environment that promotes safety for our patients is the policy brief I made for influenza vaccinations. Hospitals who have implemented a mandatory influenza program have seen an 80& reduction in influenza (Sheffer, et al. 2011). Patients in the hospitals are immunocompromised and at risk of getting the flu when hospitalized due to exposures. Healthcare workers who may be ill with influenza can spread the illness at least one day before experiencing symptoms (Randall et. al., 2013, p.1772). Because of this patient risk, action should take place to better protect patients and nurses both. As nursing professionals, our duty as advocates to our patients is to promote an environment of safety against disease and deadly virus's.
Policy Brief
final_policy_brief_2018.pdf
Throughout these activities I learned of the importance of considering the patients environment and external influences in every patient encounter. When working with patients I continue to be mindful of the bigger picture and the wide variety of things that influence patients health. I will continue to use the skills I have acquired to provide better assessments, promote a therapeutic environment, and I will continue my commitment towards maintaining a culture of safety in my workplace.
Resources
Ferris State University School of Nursing. (2011). BSN program outcomes. Retrieved from http://www.ferris.edu/colleges/alliedhe/nursing/BSN-program-
outcomes.htm.
Lin, L., & Liang, B. A. (2007, January 22). Addressing the Nursing Work Environment to Promote Patient Safety. Nursing Forum, 42, 20-30.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nuf.2007.42.issue-1/issuetoc
Randall, L., Curran, E., & Omer, S. (2013). Legal considerations surrounding mandatory influenza vaccination for healthcare workers in the United
States. Vaccine,31, 1771-1776. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.02.002
Shefer, A., Atkinson, W., Friedman, C., Kuhar, D.T>, Mootrey, G., Bialek, S.R., Cohn, A., Fiore, A., Grohskopf, L., Liang, J.L., Lorick., S. A., Marin, M. Mintz
E.., Murphy, T. V., Newton, A., Fiebelkorn, A.P., Sewrad, J., Wallace, G., (2011). Immunization of Health-Care Personnel: Recommendations of the
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6007a1.htm
In order to best help our patients on their journey towards health, it is important to do a full assessment including positive aspects of their health and also areas of opportunity. By understanding the full picture and the environment influencing a patients behavior, nurses are able to better partner with that patient and work together on setting goals to promote health and well-being. One example of that partnership is my work with a patient completing a real age health promotion paper. For this, I identified a patient who was ready to make some positive changes for his health. A full assessment was completed to determine areas of strengths and also areas in need of improvement. External influences contributing to some of the barriers being experienced by the patient were also addressed. By fully incorporating external influences and environmental barriers into the care plan for this patient, goals were easier to identify and execute by the patient. This highlighted to me the importance of considering the patients environment when helping patient make healthy changes.
Real Age Risk Reduction Paper
realagehealthpromotionpaper.docx
A second example of creating an environment that promotes safety for our patients is the policy brief I made for influenza vaccinations. Hospitals who have implemented a mandatory influenza program have seen an 80& reduction in influenza (Sheffer, et al. 2011). Patients in the hospitals are immunocompromised and at risk of getting the flu when hospitalized due to exposures. Healthcare workers who may be ill with influenza can spread the illness at least one day before experiencing symptoms (Randall et. al., 2013, p.1772). Because of this patient risk, action should take place to better protect patients and nurses both. As nursing professionals, our duty as advocates to our patients is to promote an environment of safety against disease and deadly virus's.
Policy Brief
final_policy_brief_2018.pdf
Throughout these activities I learned of the importance of considering the patients environment and external influences in every patient encounter. When working with patients I continue to be mindful of the bigger picture and the wide variety of things that influence patients health. I will continue to use the skills I have acquired to provide better assessments, promote a therapeutic environment, and I will continue my commitment towards maintaining a culture of safety in my workplace.
Resources
Ferris State University School of Nursing. (2011). BSN program outcomes. Retrieved from http://www.ferris.edu/colleges/alliedhe/nursing/BSN-program-
outcomes.htm.
Lin, L., & Liang, B. A. (2007, January 22). Addressing the Nursing Work Environment to Promote Patient Safety. Nursing Forum, 42, 20-30.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nuf.2007.42.issue-1/issuetoc
Randall, L., Curran, E., & Omer, S. (2013). Legal considerations surrounding mandatory influenza vaccination for healthcare workers in the United
States. Vaccine,31, 1771-1776. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.02.002
Shefer, A., Atkinson, W., Friedman, C., Kuhar, D.T>, Mootrey, G., Bialek, S.R., Cohn, A., Fiore, A., Grohskopf, L., Liang, J.L., Lorick., S. A., Marin, M. Mintz
E.., Murphy, T. V., Newton, A., Fiebelkorn, A.P., Sewrad, J., Wallace, G., (2011). Immunization of Health-Care Personnel: Recommendations of the
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6007a1.htm
Clinical Evaluations
Certifications