N104: Essentials of Nursing Care - Health Safety

N104: Essentials of Nursing Care – Health Safety Study Guide explore their surroundings. As their coordination improves, these children begin to explore stairs, open doors, and climb on the furniture. The caregiver or parent must continue to provide safe bath and environmental temperatures. Because they are still likely to put toys into their mouths, the preschool child should only play with toys that will not be swallowed. • School-aged children are beginning to enjoy sports, swimming, riding bikes, and other activities with the potential for causing harm. Protective equipment must be provided for this stage. At this age, children can begin to understand the cause and effect and should be taught about safe and dangerous behaviors. • The leading cause of death in the adolescent population is suicide. The nurse must be aware of this statistic when dealing with a depressed adolescent. It is during this stage that children begin to drive, so parents and caregivers must emphasize the importanceof wearing seat belts and understanding and obeying traffic laws. Adolescents are at high risk for sports injuries. • Young and middle-aged adults are at the highest risk for death and injury from motor vehicle accidents. Sunbathing and outdoor activities may lead to increased exposure to radiation and skin cancers associated with thatexposure. • Older adults may have diminished reaction times and sensory abilities leading to an increased risk of injury and death from accidents. Impaired balance may lead to an increased risk for falls. Impaired memory may put this age group at higher risk for injury. Because of the decreased sensitivity to pain, the patient in this age groupmay be at an increased risk for burns and sores from poorly fitting shoes. Lifestyle/Socioeconomic Factors A patient's lifestyle and socioeconomic status may put her at increased risk for environmental injuries. Noise and air pollution may be an increased hazard in some work or living environments. A patient without the financial means to buy protective equipment may put himself and his family at risk for injury. Living close to nuclear plants, noise hazards, or other environmentally risky areas may expose the patient to certain environmental hazards. Overcrowded or high crime neighborhoods may increase the patient's risk for injury. 7.3 The Nursing Process and Environmental Concerns Assessment In the assessment phase of the nursing process, the nurse must evaluate the possible environmental safety risks. This assessment should include the current healthcare environment and the patient's home environment, and must include an assessment of the patient's ability to protect themselves from injury in the environment. In the review of the history, the nurse should ask specifically about previous falls, dizziness, and other injuries that might be attributed to environmental risks. The physical assessment will include an evaluation of the patient's balance, altered mobility, and other factors that might lead to falls. The nurse should also evaluate the patient's ability to sense heat, cold, and pain in all extremities. The patient's general appearance and cognitive status should be evaluated during the assessment phase. Each of the factors affecting environmental safety should be evaluated for every patient to determine risks for injury. Analysis and Diagnosis

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