QUALITY AND SAFETY ISSUES TO PREVENT WRONG SURGICAL SITE

When a patient has a surgical procedure, it is only expected that one is anxious, nervous, and even terrified. Consenting to a procedure is a huge decision that involves countless factors to consider. But one risk is so callous, that most people don’t even consider it to arise. That occurrence is the surgery proceeding at the wrong site. The mistake may be wrong anatomic side/site or even the incorrect procedure completely. Unfortunately, despite all of the safety protocols in place, this unacceptable incidence still surfaces today.

In fact, approximately 2,700 patients are maltreated by wrong-site surgery each year (Collins, Newhouse, Porter, & Talsma, 2019). This course has taught me to be more aware of quality and safety issues in order to prevent them. I currently work at Platte Valley Medical Center as a surgical assistant in the surgery department. The surgery department runs on a tight schedule where efficiency seems to be the top priority. With productivity at the forefront, I feel patient safety may be compromised and wrong surgical site occurrences may be the consequence of the skewed priorities.

For every action of patient care, myself and all nurses should utilize the QSEN Principles