As the head nurse involved in leading determination of which patient s

QUESTION

As the head nurse involved in leading determination of which patient surveillance systems to acquire for your unit, one of your aims is to avoid adverse events through the implementation of appropriate technology. This particular aim recognizes that:

a. Human error is significant in contributing to adverse events.
b. Documentation of patient data is often illegible and therefore, misinterpreted.
c. Data systems provide backup documentation with adverse events that staff cannot provide.
d. Physiologic monitoring systems enable detection of early changes before an adverse event occurs.

ANSWER:

ANS: D
Data about adverse events suggests that a majority of physiologic abnormalities are not detected early enough and may be present hours before the event actually occurs. Physiologic monitoring aids in early detection of changes.