Week 5 Assignment: Risk Evaluation and Patient Safety

Chamberlain University College of Nursing

NR544: Quality and Safety in Healthcare

Risk Evaluation and Patient Safety

“Risk management in healthcare is the process of identifying the threats that could harm the organization, its patients, staff, or anyone else in the facility” (Riskonnect, 2022). Risk management in regard to healthcare is about protecting patients and the organization. The difference in healthcare risk management from other industries is that lives are at stake. The accurate response to risks can mean the difference between the life and death of the patient, staff, or visitors. It is important to preserve the viability of the organization, and nothing takes priority over preventing harm to people.

Introduction – Potential Risk

The hospital may be a place of healing, but it can also be a scene of an increasing number of violent incidents. These incidents not only put patients at risk but also medical professionals as they are often the targets of attacks, harassment, intimidation, and other disruptive behavior. Perpetrators include patients, family members, visitors, and vendors as well as current and former healthcare employees. Common reasons for workplace violence can include staff shortages, increased patient morbidities, exposure to violent individuals, and the absence of strong workplace violence prevention programs and protective regulations are all barriers to eliminating violence against healthcare workers (CDC, 2022). The facility should enact a zero-policy that emphasizes that no form of violence (physical, verbal, or psychological) will be tolerated and that all offenders will be subject to disciplinary action, including termination............. Continue