Nursing Outcomes: The work we do matters

Today's episode is creating a positive harm free environment for our patients

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Welcome back to Nursing Together, the podcast where we come together as nurses to share, learn, and grow. I'm Michelle and we have been talking about the importance of nursing and our healthcare settings. Today we're gonna be talking about nursing clinical outcomes and why our daily work is so critical in shaping them. Let's start at the beginning. What is a clinical outcome? In a simple term, it is the result of the care we provide. Did our care improve health, prevent harm or support recovery? That is what an outcome measures. Sometimes as leaders, we make assumptions that every nurse understands and knows exactly what we are talking about. When we say the words like. Collapsy Coty and happy. I know that when I took over a unit, I use these terms all the time when talking about some of our important work that we needed to do. After several staff meetings, one of the nurses finally spoke up and said, Michelle, I'm so sorry, but I do not understand the terms you are using. I realized my mistake and started from the beginning so they could connect the dots. Now I wanna break down some of the common hospital acquired conditions and explain not only what they are, but how nursing works to identify and prevent them every single day. Central line associated bloodstream infections, which are called collapses. A central line gives us reliable access to administer medicines, fluids, or nutrients, but it also can create a direct pathway into the bloodstream for bacteria. That is why these infections can be so dangerous. How can a nurse identify or prevent them? One, we assess the insertion site. Every single shift for redness, drainage, or tenderness. We maintain sterile technique when changing dressings. We scrub the hub before every single access, and most importantly, we ask the daily question, does my patient need this line? Nurses are the ones who notice early signs of infection and advocate for line removal. And when it's no longer needed, That vigilance prevents harm. Catheter associated urinary tract infections or cos urinary catheters may be placed for monitoring or re tension, but they're one of the most common sources for infections in the hospital. The longer a catheter stays in, the higher the risk. How can nurses identify and prevent these? Well, we can monitor urine for cloudiness odors, or signs of infection. We keep drainage bags below the bladder level to prevent backflow. We provide. Peritoneal care and catheter daily care, and we advocate once again for the removal if possible. Nurses often are the first to say, let's trial this patient without a catheter and see if they can use the restroom. That decision alone can prevent a cotty. Next we have our hospital acquired pressure injuries or Happys pressure injuries happen when the skin and underlining tissue break down from a prolonged pressure, sheer, or moisture. They're painful. It's a complicated recovery, and they're largely preventable. So what can we do as a nurse? We can perform skin assessments on admission and every shift we turn, we reposition our patients at least every two hours or more often if needed. We get them up, we get them walking, or we get 'em in a chair. We use pressure relieving surfaces and keep skin clean and dry, and. We educate patients and families about shifting weight even in a chair. Nurses often catch the earliest signs of a pressure injury, redness that doesn't blanch act before it progresses. Then we have our falls with injuries. Falls can lead to fractures, head injuries, or prolonged hospital stays. Yeah, every fall is a setback, but most importantly, we can prevent these with consistent, intentional nursing care. We complete a fall risk assessment and tailor prevention plans to each patient. We ensure that the rooms are clutter free. Call bells are within reach, and the patients have nons slit socks or footwear. We use a bedside or a chair alarm when appropriate, and we round frequently to meet toileting and mobility needs before the patient tries to get up and do this on their own. Often it's nursing presence, checking in, noticing a restless patient, and anticipating their needs that prevents a fall from ever happening. M-R-S-A-M-R-S-A is a bacteria that is resilient to most antibiotics and it spreads in healthcare environments. Once inquired, it can lead to serious bloodstream infections, pneumonia, or surgical site infections. So what do we need to do? We need to practice. Methodical hand washing before every patient encounter. We use gowns and gloves when caring for the patient under contact precautions. We monitor the wound, the IV sites for changes, and we teach patients and families about handwashing and isolating practices. Nurses are the constant role models for infection prevention, showing through our actions and how to keep a patient safe. Here's. A bigger picture. These negative outcomes collapses cos pressure injuries and HAPIs aren't just numbers on a report. There are moments where nursing care directly determines whether harm is prevented or not. When we foul evidence-based bundles, we turn and reposition. We round with intention when we wash our hands for the hundredth time in the shift, we are practicing evidence-based nursing and those everyday actions save lives. Remember, clinical outcomes are not just about metrics. They're about the stories. Every avoidable infection, every preventable fall, every intact skin. It represents a patient who got to go home safer and healthier because of the nurse. This has been nursing together. I hope this episode was helpful and provided insight on how our work every day protects our patients. Thank you for being a part of this journey with me. Let's keep shaping better outcomes together. Until next time, stay inspired. Stay committed. And keep nursing together.