Question

The risk manager informs the nurse manager of an orthopedic unit that her unit has had an increase in incident reports about patients falling during the 11-7 shift. The nurse manager knows that the best way to resolve the problem is to:

1) Use creativity.
2) Obtain support from the 7-3 shift.
3) Use institutional research.
4) Identify the problem.

Answer 1

The nurse manager should identify the problem of increased patient falls during the 11-7 shift through incident report analysis and data collection. Critical thinking and interdisciplinary teamwork can help develop strategies to reduce fall risks, and managing rotating shifts' impact is vital for maintaining patient safety.

Step-by-step explanation:

Critical Thinking in Healthcare Professionals' Shift Work

To address the problem of increased patient falls during the 11-7 shift on the orthopedic unit, the nurse manager should start by identifying the problem. This requires a thorough analysis of the incident reports and possibly additional data collection to understand the underlying causes. Once the problem is identified, the nurse manager can use critical thinking to develop and implement evidence-based strategies to reduce the risk of falls. Additionally, obtaining support from healthcare professionals on other shifts, like the 7-3 shift, and employing creativity in solutions can also be beneficial. Institutional research may provide insights into best practices or effective interventions used in other units or hospitals.

Rotating Shifts and Their Challenges

Healthcare professionals often work rotating shifts, which can lead to physical fatigue, cognitive impairment, and disrupt personal lives, potentially increasing the risk of incidents like patient falls. Addressing this issue might involve restructuring shift patterns, providing staff with resources to cope with shift work, and involving them in schedule planning to ensure they have recovery time between shifts. Moreover, emphasizing teamwork, communication, and safety checklists during shift transitions can maintain high levels of patient care and safety.

Interdisciplinary teamwork is essential in healthcare. During shift changes, surgeons, nurses, and anesthesia professionals should review key concerns for the recovery and care of the patient to ensure continuity of care. Team members, including nursing staff, should confirm critical information like the patient's identity, surgical site, and procedure to minimize risks of errors.