On April 20, a group of ICU Healthcare workers in Phoenix counter-protested people demanding Arizona’s governor reopen the state. In the face of verbal assault and bluster from the protestors, the nurses wearing scrubs and respiratory masks stood silently with arms crossed, making a strong statement against prematurely exposing people to COVID-19. Since then the photo has gone viral. Continue reading
Risk of False Demand
When organizations consider risk it is usually centric to mitigating sentinel events or Black Swans (Special Cause) and not usually focused on what is called common cause variation. By definition these special cause events have a low probability to predict because it is a random from an unusual occurrence and is unstable and unpredictable. Common cause or process variation is stable and predictable as it is part of the system which means we can identify and reduce variation which reduces risk. Continue reading
When considering the organizational objectives, we have to know three essential pieces of the puzzle before we can even begin.
Incorrect interpretation of drug abbreviation’s can lead to serious harm for patients. Consider the following: At 7:00 AM, Jane, a registered nurse enters the details for Mary, the last of her five patients as she completes a 12-hour shift. As the day begins, Ann is checking on patients and reviewing their charts. She is confused by an abbreviation “MTX” for a medication given to Mary at 4:30 AM. It can be interpreted as methotrexate (used for rheumatoid arthritis) or mitoxantrone (a cancer drug). Continue reading