Final answer:
The QSEN competency reflecting a nurse's efforts to minimize harm to patients is 'Safety', which involves strategies to avoid healthcare errors. Discussion between surgical teams about patient care concerns also aligns with this safety goal. Health records policies must balance treatment costs, patient quality of life, and privacy risks.
Step-by-step explanation:
The QSEN competency that reflects a nurse's vigilance in minimizing any risk of harm to patients is Safety. This competency ensures that healthcare professionals have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to protect patients from health care errors and potential harm. Nurses and other healthcare providers prioritize patient safety by actively engaging in strategies to mitigate risk, such as employing evidence-based practices, following proper protocol, and continuously monitoring patient status.
For instance, during surgery, the surgeon, nurse, and anesthesia professional review aloud the key concerns for the recovery and care of the patient, ensuring that all possible risks are identified and managed appropriately to safeguard the patient's well-being.
When considering the development of policies around health records, three essential questions include: How can we best balance the cost of treatments and diagnoses while still providing the highest quality of patient care? What measures can be taken to enhance patient quality of life within our healthcare delivery model? And, how can we protect individual privacy while maintaining access to necessary health information for continuing care?