Reference no: EM133445498

Propose specific strategies and IP team involvement in safety protocol and Describe specific steps as to how and why you would collaborate and involve at least 3 additional IP team members to create and implement your safety protocol.

The first strategy to address the safety issue; behavioural concerns of dementia patients is implementing weekly mental health huddles. Mental health huddles are similar to the safety huddles already in place in our unit at Riverview, in that they allow "for immediate knowledge transfer and learning following errors or "close calls" (cite wagner p.237). They allow nurses and health care aides to "discuss issues and generate solutions to mental-health related concerns (ex, how to prevent and manage a responsive behaviour) in a timely manner" (wagner, p.237). Therefore, they promote interprofessional communication and "foster a supportive teamwork environment" (240), with the end goal of patient safety.

The second strategy is based on patient/client focused care by focusing on the resident's physical environment as it "has been shown to reduce challenging behaviours and foster positive ones, such as lower agitation, increase in social contact, less dependence in conducting activities of daily living" (chaudhury, 491). During meal times, to create a sense of familiarity for the residents "evidence indicates that serving food and drinks directly at the table, rather than on trays, provides a more familiar atmosphere for enjoying meals" (p.496). Additionally, playing classical music in the dining helps to decrease responsive behaviours that could harm the patient as well other residents (p.496).

The third strategy focuses on technology interventions that can be used to enhance patient safety. Responsive behaviours of dementia patients can put their own safety at risk as well other residents. In Riverview, they have a call bell system/bed alarms to alert nurses and health care aids which patient needs help. Another tool that can be implemented is using"embedded or integrated activity monitoring systems that can track behaviours such as movement patterns (ex time spent in bed, trips to the bathroom) or sleep behaviours and for real-time transfer of information to health care providers (p.296). Since there are usually only two nurses on the floor, having this system implemented can better inform the IPC team about the resident's behaviour and if any necessary changes are needed in the care plan.