Question

Take some time to research the many hazards that you will face as you take care of your patient. Describe one hazard that could harm you and/or you patient in the healthcare setting. What actions can nurses take to prevent harm to your patient or self?

Answer 1

Answer: One of the most common hazard that the nurse may face during taking care of the patient suffering from mental health illness. Some of the patients are aggressive in nature. They may cause physical harm to the nurse as well as to themselves. The patients become violent and could harm the nurse. Due to their poor ability to think properly, they can attack on the healthcare professionals with anything and may cause severe injury. Hence it is important for the nurse to be alert while taking care to this kind of patients.

The nurse need to take some actions to prevent harm such as:

• Avoid any sharp things kept near by the patient's bed.
• Always make sure that the patient is calm and not in anger.
• Try to stay close to the open gate or door to escape in the condition where patient may attack.
• Build a trust with patient.
• Try to communicate with patient.
• Ensure the medications that patient should take on time.