A client with a nasogastric tube to suction has been prescribed ...

[Engineer]

A client with a nasogastric tube to suction has been prescribed tracheostomy suctioning as needed to maintain airway integrity.
 
  While rounding after report the nurse notes that the tubing for the nasogastric suction has been switched with that to be used for the tracheostomy suctioning. How should the charge nurse categorize this error?
  1. Latent
  2. Active
  3. Technical
  4. Organizational system

Question 2

The laboratory supervisor states, I would like to collaborate with nursing services to improve the way they order laboratory tests. What is the error in this statement?
 
  1. Laboratory supervisors should have no influence on nursing service.
  2. An integrated delivery system centers on the client's health needs, not on the particular care given by one group.
  3. The issues between laboratory services and nursing services are generally related to the way orders are written by physicians.
  4. Collaboration cannot occur between disciplines in a hospital.

[aprice35067]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 2

This is an active error. Errors can be classified as: latent-outside of the purview of the clinician, can involve organizational policies, procedures, allocation of resources, sometimes referred to as the blunt end; active-involves direct contact with the patient, usually encompasses direct care provided by clinicians or bedside staff, also known as the sharp end; organizational system-indirect failures involving management, organizational culture, protocols/processes, transfer of knowledge, and external factors; technical-indirect failure of facilities or external resources.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 2

This statement focuses on what one service (nursing) is doing wrong. This goes against the idea that an integrated system focuses on the client's health needs, not on the particular care given by one group. This laboratory supervisor can have influence on nursing services by collaborating with that service, not by criticizing and directing what nursing will do. This is true no matter what the issue is and what causes the problem. Collaboration often occurs between and among disciplines in a hospital.