Patient Care & Safety Standards Flashcards

The Joint Commission's International Patient Safety Goals (IPSG) include correct patient identification. Which of the following meets the minimum standard for patient identification?

Answer: At least two patient identifiers (e.g., full name + date of birth or Emirates ID) before any procedure, medication, or sample collection

IPSG 1 requires a minimum of two patient identifiers before any clinical interaction. Acceptable identifiers include full name, date of birth, Emirates ID/MRN, or wristband barcode. Room/bed number is NOT an acceptable identifier as patients move between rooms.

A medication error occurs when a nurse gives a patient 10× the prescribed dose of insulin due to a decimal point misread. Under the principle of 'just culture,' how should the organization respond?

Answer: Investigate system factors (design of prescription, drug labeling, workload) while addressing individual accountability appropriately

Just culture distinguishes between human error, at-risk behavior, and reckless behavior. A decimal point misread is typically a system/human error — the response should focus on system fixes (prescription design, double-check requirements, alert systems) while addressing the individual proportionately and supportively.

In the DHA patient safety framework, which event requires a formal Root Cause Analysis (RCA)?

Answer: Sentinel events (unanticipated events causing death, serious harm, or near misses with high potential for severe harm)

A Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is mandated for sentinel events — serious patient safety incidents including patient death from unexpected causes, wrong-site surgery, severe medication errors with harm, retained surgical instruments, and other never events. The RCA identifies contributing factors for system-level correction.

When preparing to administer intravenous medication, a nurse notices the drug label is different from the original prescription. What should the nurse do?

Answer: Stop and clarify with the prescribing physician and pharmacy before administration

Any discrepancy between prescribed and dispensed medication requires clarification before administration. The nurse must stop, verify with the prescriber and pharmacist, and not administer until the discrepancy is resolved. Patient safety supersedes time pressure.

What is the purpose of the 'surgical safety checklist' (WHO Surgical Safety Checklist) used in Dubai hospitals?

Answer: To ensure key safety checks are performed at Sign In, Time Out, and Sign Out phases, reducing complications and mortality

The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist is an evidence-based tool performed in three phases: Sign In (before anesthesia), Time Out (before incision — team verification of patient, site, procedure), and Sign Out (before team leaves OR). It has been shown to reduce surgical mortality by up to 47%.

A patient develops a pressure ulcer (stage 3) on their sacrum during a 10-day hospitalization. Under DHA quality standards, this is classified as:

Answer: A Never Event/hospital-acquired condition requiring incident reporting and investigation

Stage 3 or 4 pressure ulcers that develop during hospitalization (not present on admission) are classified as Never Events/hospital-acquired conditions in DHA and international quality standards. They require formal incident reporting, investigation, and system-level improvement actions.