Competency 6: SAFE AND EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENT 1. Describe safe & effective environment.

A safe environment reduces risk for accidents and helps to contain the cost of health care by preventing extended lengths of treatment and/ or hospitalization, improving or maintaining a patients functional status, and increases the patients sense of wellbeing. Nurses are responsible for the patients safety. A safety environment includes meeting basic human needs, reducing physical hazards and reducing transmission of pathogens. A. Basic Human Needs a. Oxygen- basic need -without C02 cells become ischemic and if unresolved can cause necrosis -heating system malfunction release of C02 **a common environmental hazard in home is the improperly functioning of the heating system. CO( CARBON MONOXIDE)= binds strongly with hemoglobin which prevents the formation of oxyhemoglobin leading to decrease O2 delivered in the tissue, CO= nausea, dizziness, headache, fatigue B. Nutrition- proper equipment to provide adequate refrigeration, storage, and prep of food. Freezer- to keep perishable foods fresh Clean water system- for drinking, washing produce and dishes Foods- need to be cooked properly to decrease risk for infection and poisoning Person @Risk: children, pregnant women, old, immunocompromised C. Temperature: 18.3C- 23.8C (65-75F) cold weather= hypothermia - affects older adults, very young, patient with heart probs, pt.in drug or excess alcohol, homeless hot weather= hyperthermia - increase core temp & elec imbalance- heat exhaustion D. Humidity Relative humidity- amount of H20 vapor in air Increase humidity by humidifier to increase breathing and increase liquefication of secretions 2. Physical Hazards- can result in physical, psychological injury, and death

Inadeaquate lighting, barriers aling normal walking paths & stairways, lack of safety devices

** Leading causes of unintentional deaths: I. II. III. MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS FALLS: risk people are the older aldults, impaired vision & mobility POISON- impairs functioning of every major organ - Ingestion of household cleaning solutions, medications, or oersonal hygiene products - Risk are toddler, preschooler, young school-age childs What to do: Antidotes Poison control center FIRES- cigarettes, cigars, pipes Smoking in bed & falling asleep accidentally Not changing old batteries in home smoke detectors Natural Disasters- floods, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes - Focus on preparation and mitigation

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