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Essay / Addressing Safety in Home Care - 1607
A universal aspiration for all registered nurses (RNs) and work environments is to create a safe atmosphere for clients and employees. The registered nurse has an obligation to ensure "a culture of safety using established occupational health and safety practices and other safety measures to protect the client, herself and colleagues from harm." injuries or potentially abusive situations” (Saskatchewan Registered Nurses' Association, 2007, p. 11). This competency guides registered nurses in providing and promoting safe practice environments. Thus, the issue addressed in this document is occupational health and safety (OHS). The target population is home care, meaning “care provided to patients at home to restore their functional capacity, enable them to manage their care independently, and enable them to remain safe in the community » (Panasci, 2009). , p.190). The author received consent from the manager of the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region (PAPHR) Home Support Team, who will be referred to as OS. By conducting an interview in collaboration with OS, the author gained insight into the manager's role, challenges and ensuring OHS. practices. For the all-inclusive interview, refer to Appendix A. This document will describe the essence of OSH, the manager's and writer's approaches and strategies to resolve the challenges.Management ChallengeThe challenge that was the focus of the interview was OHS in a home care environment and the challenges of implementing occupational risk minimization. OSH prevents and protects employees from workplace hazards (Chadwick & Doyle, 2008). The six types of health and safety hazards are biological, chemical, ergonomic, physical, psychosocial and safety (Chadwick &...... middle of paper ......hem and if they decide not to not use them, the The manager could give a verbal warning for the first incident and for the second incident, give a written warning The manager could also use this tactic with rock salt or kitty litter (Fox, 2011). ConclusionThe goal of maintaining a safe environment for both home care workers and clients is essential. This goal is an ongoing problem in home care; the most significant risks identified are violence and environmental hazards. were addressed. The OS management philosophy was consistent with what the literature explains how having a constant assessment tool can help maintain a safe environment for clients and staff. Most importantly, one of the ethical values and responsibilities of nurses is to “provide safe, compassionate, competent, and ethical care” (Code of Ethics, 2008, p. 8).