Why Is Patient Safety Important

Nurses play a vital role in achieving the safety and quality of patient care and reducing adverse outcomes. Patient safety is one the most important component of our health care system and is essential to quality health care. The QSEN defines safety for nurses as “minimize(ing) risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance”. Patients’ safety is a one of the most challenging matter for the reason that errors and mistakes can and do happen. In order to provide proficient safe delivery of care you must have the proper knowledge, skills, preventive measures, and goals. Three goals/preventive measures that promotes safety and quality of patient care and improve patient safety are; infection prevention, identifying patients
Washing and sanitizing hands before direct contact with each patient eliminates unnecessary spread of infections. Another practice that promotes safety among health care professionals is identifying patients correctly. At least two pieces of information, such as name and date of birth. This helps ensure that patients receive the medicine or other treatment intended for them. The last preventive goal is the use medicines safely. Label all drugs, including syringes, cups will prevent confusion and identify each medication the patient is receiving. In addition, nurses should take extra precautions with patients on blood thinners, insulin, and controlled substances. With the enormous number of prescription drugs on the market, there is significant potential for error due to confusing brand or generic names and packaging. The Joint Commission’s safety goals require finding out which medicines each patient is taking. Make sure that any additional medication does not conflict with current ones. Overall, the goals and the preventive measures both minimize the risk of harm to patients and providers. They promote quality of patient care and optimal safety that is essential for our health care