A sentinel event refers to an unexpected occurrence that involves a serious physical, psychological or death. Serious injury includes the loss of a limb. It may also include the risk thereof. The phrase “the risk thereof” may include any process variation for which the recurrence may carry a significant chance may bring an adverse outcomes (Joint Commission Resources, pg. 14). The events have the name sentinel because they deserve immediate investigation and action. Identification of sentinel events is important because it helps in root cause analysis. It is important in the development of preventative measures. The Joint Commission makes it a requirement for all accredited organizations to define a sentinel organization for its own health care system. They should implement monitoring processes that will aid in detecting the sentinel events and procedures for performing root cause analysis. The accredited healthcare facilities should respond appropriately to all the sentinel events. The responses include conducting thorough, timely and credible root cause analysis. They should develop actions designed to improve and reduce risk. They should implement the improvements and monitor the effectiveness of the improvements. Sentinel events include rape, unanticipated death of an infant, hemolytic transfusion reaction and suicide of a patient receiving care in the medical care facility.
Nursing interventions must show a link between nursing actions and the patient outcomes. The development of proactive nursing interventions focuses on the methods used to test the intervention. Proactive methods of prevention include encouraging the patient to avoid risk healthy behavior like regular physical exercise to prevent obesity. It may also involve encouraging the patient to make healthy choices like avoiding processed food. Targeting high-risk population is a proactive that leads to prevention. It involves advising people on alcohol, smoking, unsafe sexual practice, screening and mammography. For patients that already have an illness and conditions, it entails prescribing for them treatments that will prevent them from further complications. Helping and encouraging the patients to change their behavior is a proactive intervention (Stanhope et al., pg. 16). Change in behavior towards the positive side leads to promotion of a healthy lifestyle. Change in behavior of the patient contributes to disease promotion. Educating patients to understand the importance of having a good health is a method of prevention. It may also include encouraging patients to have an understanding of their problems.
What drives nursing research?
Nursing research continues to explore on finding new knowledge because of its commitment to prevent disease and disabilities. New diseases and other ailments emerge and it acts as a driving force for nurses to continue dedicating their time in research. Research in nursing is important in managing and eliminating all the symptoms caused by illnesses. The development of new technology in all the various fields of medicine makes nursing to have a branch that will research on new ways of doing things in the delivery of care to the patients. Nursing field recognizes the need to have a scientific foundation of knowledge that will allow it continue to provide care. Nursing research continues to provide evidence that supports all the nursing practices. Nursing is a practice that relies on evidence and continues to develop to the present date. Nursing relies on evidence from nursing research to develop interventions. Nursing research happens in quantitative and qualitative terms. Nursing research is important for improvement of quality in all the practices.
Works Cited
Stanhope, Marcia, and Jeanette Lancaster. Public Health Nursing: Population-centered Health Care in the Community. , 2014. Print.
Understanding and Preventing Sentinel and Adverse Events in Your Health Care Organization. Oakbrook Terrace, IL: Joint Commission Resources, 2008. Print.
