Mitigating the Impact of Physical Risk Agents in Nursing Homes

This research focuses on the impact of physical risk agents in nursing homes and explores strategies to mitigate their impact. It discusses the types of risk agents, their effects on patients, and recommends prevention and control measures. The study aims to provide valuable insights for nursing homes in managing physical risk agents.

Research Methods and
Project (Mitigating the
Impact of Physical Risk
Agents in Nursing Homes
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Table of Contents
Formative assessment......................................................................................................................3
Summative assessment.....................................................................................................................5
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................5
CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW.........................................................................................8
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.............................................................................1
Research Type .............................................................................................................................1
Research design...........................................................................................................................1
Research approach.......................................................................................................................1
Research philosophy....................................................................................................................2
Data collection.............................................................................................................................2
Data analysis................................................................................................................................2
Ethical considerations..................................................................................................................3
CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS.................................................................................4
Theme 1 - Type of Physical Risk Agents in Nursing Homes.....................................................4
Impact of Risk Agents on Health of Patients...............................................................................6
Prevention and Control to Mitigate Impact of Physical Risk Agents..........................................7
CHAPTER 5 RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION........................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
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Formative assessment
Introduction
The term physical agents is used to describe the group regarding the sources of energy
that have the ability of injury causing or disease to the employees (Tenke. and et.al., 2017).
There are various types of the nurses within nurse facility such as Licensed practical nurses,
registered nurses, certified nurses assistant as well as sometimes there is also considers nurse
practitioner. Depending on the need of he care to the patients ,during home employs the nurses.
The basic job of a nurse within a nursing home is to take care the desires of the patients. At the
initial level they take care of the needs of the patients such as their personal hygiene, clean their
beds as well as patients will receive proper diet with full of the nutrition as prescribed by the
doctor. Thus, more advanced responsibilities are the drawing bloods, administrating
medication ,monitoring of patients are all came under the advanced responsibilities of the
Nurses. To high positions within the home nurse can be occupied by the nurses who have
licensed (Zia, Kamaruzzaman. and Tan, 2015). They are also accountable for the entire history
of the patients ,their record as well as their all information as they assure that each and every
individual receives the best care as possible. A nursing care home provides various types of
health care services to old age people. these services can vary according to the needs of patient.
However, a care home is built either in urban or rural area. There are many hazards that can
occur in care home. Along with it, there are external or internal physical risk agent that directly
impact on patient health. Therefore, it is responsibility of care home management to identify
those agents and mitigate its impact. For this different measures and strategies are developed and
prevention technique is applied. This enables in controlling those risk agents.
There are several types of risk agents such as sound, radiation, etc. that exits outside care
home. This may be due to that if there is construction site going on or there is direct entry of
sunlight in it. In care home as different health care services are provided to people. so, for this
various machines are used as well such as X ray, ECG machine, etc. from that harmful UV rays
are generated that impact directly on patient health. Also, it releases radiation which is also a
harmful element. Apart from it, there are many other risk agents. Each of its impact vary
according to type and nature. Moreover, impact also depends on whether agent is internal or
external.
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Aim - To analyse the impact of physical risk agents in nursing homes.
Objectives
 To identify the type of physical risk agents
 To evaluate the impact of physical risk agent on patients
 To recommend prevention and control strategies to mitigate the impact of physical agents
Research questions-
 What are the types of physical risk agents ?
 What is the impact of physical risk agent on patients?
 How to prevent and control the impact of physical agents?
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Summative assessment
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
Nurse is a care taker for the patients and assists to manage the physical needs, treat health
conditions and prevent illness. They need to monitor and observe the patient as per recording the
appropriate information to assist within treatment in decision-making. The care gives to the
patients through the nurse as well as they are accountable for the holistic care regarding patients
that confine the development culture, psychological as well as require the desire of the
individuals. Here the patients is considered as the first priority as nurses have to advocate
regarding the best interests as well as maintain the dignity of the patient throughout the
treatment. It involves by making various suggestions within the treatments plans regarding
patients within the other professionals. As nurse are the personality that are directly involved
within the decision-making process regarding the treatment of the patients. Nurses are also
accountable for assuring that the patients are capable to understanding their health, medications,
illness as well as treatments as per the best of their ability. There are various Physical agents
regarding the spruces of energy as they might cause injury as Noise, Optical radiation. Nurses
and assistants handle the basic tasks that came under the direction regarding the practical nurses
as due to the duties regarding personal hygiene such as bathing, hair brushing combining as
changing clothes as well as shaving them (Tenke. and et.al., 2017). They also perform duties
regarding toiletry that need helps of the residents who require help to go bathroom as well as
changing emptying catherns and bedpans. Various other responsibilities that involves
maintaining the records of the records of the patients ,bedsore prevention, dietary care as well as
collecting samples in addition to this collecting samples and helping various patients while
transporting them from one departmental to another.
Background
It is crucial to identify the impact of physical risk agents so that proper measures to
minimizes its impacts. For this risk assessment process is followed. As the purpose regarding the
risk assessment is to determine the illness or probability of injury due to the particular Hazards.
Risk assessment also involves characteristics regarding the uncertainties of the risk called
inferring risk. The process of the risk assessment includes fur steps such as hazard identification
exposure assessment, assessment of dose response and risk characterization and estimation.
There are multiple sources of the data that can be used to accomplish each and every
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characterization. The identification regarding the Hazards is considered as typically qualitative
process as well as based on the experience, observation, published reports as well as
professional judgment. Hazards within the work environment must be identified through safety
specialist by the using of the worker compensation reports and institutional logs as well as other
information sources. Final steps within the risk assessment within risk characterization and
estimation. It is crucial for the people who are conducting risk assessment that would be more
biological, physical as well as chemical hazards that were present research.
Aim - To analyse the impact of physical risk agents in nursing homes.
Objectives
 To identify the type of physical risk agents
 To evaluate the impact of physical risk agent on patients
 To recommend prevention and control strategies to mitigate the impact of physical agents
Research questions-
 What are the types of physical risk agents ?
 What is the impact of physical risk agent on patients?
 How to prevent and control the impact of physical agents?
Significance of the research
The result of this study cam be used by other Nursing homes to evaluate that they have
been benefited to the Physical Risk Agents in Nursing Homes or not. It will also consider to be
easy regarding other Nursing homes so that the can develop stratifies that can be applied to
tackle various physical risk agents (Oakman. and Chan 2015). Thus, other nursing home will
develop as per the strategies accordingly. This study can be used by other nursing homes as well.
They will be able to implement strategies to prevent and control the impact of physical risk agent
such as sound, vibration and radiation on patient. Apart from it, proper measures can be taken on
basis of risk assessment done which will show degree of impact of risk agent on nursing home as
well as patient mental and physical health. However, other researcher and authors can also
conduct study on impact of those risk agent on patient mental health. There are many other areas
as well in which research can be conducted.
Rational
The aim of the study is to recognize both the drawbacks and benefits of the Physical
Risk Agents in Nursing Homes. This study will also assist in finding about the various physical
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risk agents that can impact on patient health in nursing homes. Moreover, another reason for
doing study is to find out types of physical risk agents. In addition to it, the study will help in
finding out measures to be taken in preventing and controlling the impact on physical risk agents.
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CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW
Theme 1 Type of physical risk agents
As per the view of Oakman. and Chan (2015) Physical agents are considered as the
energy sources that can causes disease or injury. Such as Vibration, Noise, Electromagnetic
fields and Radiation. Such as noise is considered as Unwanted loud and sound. Temporary
deafness is also experienced when someone leaves a place that is too noisy. Although it can be
recovered after some hours but a regular contact of the such kind of noises may able to cause
the permanent damage to the hearing. Loss of hearing is a prolonged due to regular exposure to
the noise as it may damage the hearing power over the years. It can also cause due to ageing of
the people. Damage to hearing can also be done due to the extreme and succeed loud noises as it
is not very common.
As per the review of the Bauer,Haesler. and Fetherstonhaugh (2016) Vibration is falls
under the oscillating movement as Hand -arm vibration is caused due to the work process and
work environment that able to transmit the vibration into the arms and hands of the employees.
Potential permanent is caused by the long term or consistent exposure to the Hand arm vibration
as well as causes the bad health effects known as hand -arm – vibration syndrome. For example
carpal tunnel syndrome and vibration white finger syndrome. Also long term as well as regular
expose to the whole body is related to the lower back pain ,as WBV ( whole body vibration) is
caused due to the vibration transmitted by the seats as well as feet through worker's vehicles and
machines.
As per the review of Rispel. and Blaauw, (2015) Optical radiation is known as the
another term for light and covering visible light, ultraviolet radiations and infrared radiations.
Nowadays the greater risk regarding health care is the optical radiation that can be posed
through the Ultraviolet radiation. Also the exposure of the sun to the eyes causes damages to the
Cornea as well as produces pain that is kind of similar to the sand within the eyes. Also there is
a effect on the skin causes the redness, accelerated aging and burning can leads to the various
types of the skin cancer and various types of the skin diseases. The second most the greatest risk
regarding he health from the optical radiation is through the misuse of the lasers, known as the
powerful lasers. Higher power able to causes the serious damages to the eyes that involves the
blindness and also skins burns.
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As per the view of the Tenke. and et.al., ( 2017) Electromagnetic fields arise within our
home from the appliances such as electrical appliances. It is arises when the electrical energy is
uses as radio frequency heating as well as drying within the large world of radio, telephones, TV
and broadcasting as well as various detection of the security devices. Due to the long time
exposure of the Emfs can gives rise the to various shot term effects. These are the effects that
able to depends on the radiation's frequency. At high frequency effects will leads to the rise
within the body temperature while at low frequencies effects occurs leads to the central nervous
system of the Human body. Within reality these are the effects that are rare as well as occurs in
most of the daily basis situations.
Theme 2 Impact of physical risk agent on patients
As per the review of Zia, Kamaruzzaman. and Tan, ( 2015) when the patients stay within
the healthcare facilities ,they have increased awareness regarding the near surrounding
especially the quality of the indoor t such as the importance regarding the recovery, sleep . Due
to the noise pollution it can adversely effect above elements. Such as the patients within the
Intensive care unit exposes to then is pollution have faces the elevated blood pressure, decreases
oxygen , enhanced respiration and heartbeat rate. There are string evidences that most pollution
enhances the rate of the stress within the adult patients. The major problems causes are sleep
loss that takes slower recovery time.
As per the view of Bauer,Haesler. and Fetherstonhaugh (2016) exposing the patients of
the ionizing radiation with teratogenic and mutagenic properties leads to an enhanced risk of
still birth,miscarriages as well as adverse effects on the reproductive outcomes and also caners
such as leukaemia ,skin cancer and bone cancer. Nurses of the hospital has the potential to the
exposure of the ionizing radiations that can holding patients that can be undergone radiographs
under the nuclear medial implants as well as tests . The department of the X-rays such as
surgical areas,emergency rooms and I.C.U are also exposed to the radiation.
As per the view of Beckett, Harbarth. and Huttner,( 2015) Workers can exposed to the
occupations by the use of the power of machinery or through the large transportation and also by
the agricultural vehicles . Vibration is also caused due to the use of the powered hand tools as
well as transmitted by the tool regarding Hand arm system that can be referred to the Hand
transmitted vibration. Exposure to the WBV results within developing sensorineural
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diseases,peripheral disease as well as various other disease. Long term use of such kind of the
vibration is reduction in loss of manual dexterity,tactile sensitivity as well as cold induced
vasospasm that able to induce balancing of the hands and fingers .These kinds of the syndrome
can falls under the syndrome called Hand -arm vibration syndrome. Workers exposed to such
kinds of the tools around the dominant frequency within the range of 60- 300 Hz. Here due to
the repetitive of the Hand transmitted vibration has also related to the systematic hearing loss
and systematic nervous system and at the same time increase risk of the cardiovascular diseases.
There are some evidence that represents that segmentation vibration is also causes to the changes
occurs within the genes included within cycle as causes to the cancer development. There is also
changes due to the enhance within systemic inflammation as well as oxidative activity or results
may be changes regrading within the increase in the Blood flow to the different organs.
As per the Beckett, Harbarth. and Huttner, (2015) WBV is basically associated in
enhance within the lower back ,shoulder pain and back as long as the exposure with the
vibration as well as other exposure that incudes maintaining positions regarding long period.
These are the vibrations that can be vibration from the truck as well as impact through the rough
roads ,hence resulted within the compression of the soft issues and disks trains that can
contribute to the back pain .WBV is also related to the motions sickness and fatigue as well as
development regarding various chronic diseases that involves cardiovascular disease ,also
metabolic disorder, type two diabetes as well as prostate cancer. Also, there are various factors
for example long hours work ,exposure to toxic chemical ,stress also accountable to the causes of
such diseases.
Theme 3 prevention and control strategies to mitigate the impact of physical agents
As per the () there are members must educate employees not only the doctors but also
nurses about all the ancillary departments such as Transport, visitors and patients in order to
raise the awareness of its effects regarding healing . There is also development as well as
enforcement of policies that are related to the noise reduction. As the programs can be evaluated
regarding an ongoing basis by the satisfactory survey of the patients. Post signs reminding
patients,staff,visitors that can be consider to the voice level- here hushed can be used instead of
the normal speaking tones wherever and when possible talks that is only close to the listeners .
This is a kind of the strategy that can assist to enhance speech privacy that is considered as the
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healthcare settings. While some hospital have also topped noise- posters with more attracted
acronym such as '' HUSH'' ( help us support healing) and SSSS ( Silent hospital help to heal).
There is also training should be provided to the handling disruptive vocalization or handling loud
vocalization through patient as by reducing triggers such as overstimulation,under
stimulation ,pain or discomfort.
As per the view Beckett, Harbarth. and Huttner, (2015) to vibrate from the cell phones
and lower ringer volumes,there is a decreasing of he noise from the electronic devices as well as
also asks the patients so that they can utilises the headsets accompanied by the personal
electronic devices and with television. There must be also buying of the quieter equipment for
example door hardware and hand towel. It is also replaced or fix any fault equipments such as
creaking doors and squeaky vehicles especially cars. There is also necessary design to quiet time
due to which no routine check are made until and unless any desire regarding medical. There
must be also use of the dim lights to boosts quiet as well as helping the patients regarding for the
good sleep of the patients. They must also tries to limit the paging through the staff by the
devices such as personal devices. As per the Gregersen, Damsgaard. and Borris, (2015) as tools
can be design to assist to reduce the vibration level such as by utilizing the anti-vibration chains
label to reduces the acceleration level trough a level of factor about 10. These are the kinds of
the chain saws that can be maintained as well involves periodic replacement regarding shock
absorbers. There are various pneumatic tools such as pavement breakers, and pneumatic riveting
guns as well as chipping hammers. There is also uses of the Protective gloves that are made of
the leather and cotton as they are commonly used through the workers as well as unable to
reduce the vibration that able to transfer to the hands of the workers as when they are working
with the equipments and tools. These gloves are considered as the anti-vibration gloves that are
made up of by using a layer called the viscoelastic material. Some measurements shows that
they have kind of the limited effectiveness as these vibrations hazard may not be controlled
appropriately. By the suing of the anti vibration gloves and tools the employees can decrease the
risk regarding the hand arm vibration (HAVS) through using following practices. Such as by
wearing the proper clothing involves gloves so that it keep them warm, by using the minimum
strength of the hand grip that enables workers to do safer operations, do not try to use ever
faulty kinds of tools.
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As per the Starr,McDonald. and Bales, (2015) training must be provided to the workers to
make aware them by HAVS within workplace. Training must involves proper use as well as
maintenance of the tools that crates vibration as well as unnecessary avoid the exposure
regarding vibration. It is seen that the vibration equipments and tools produces loud noise as
with the help of training as well as education within controlling vibration must address the
concerns must able to address concern regarding control of the noise.
As per the Gregersen, Damsgaard. and Borris, (2015) limit the time that can be spent
through the workers on a surface that have characteristics of the vibrating surface. It also assures
the equipments used by the workers is well maintained and at the same time avoid excessive
vibration. Also, tries to install vibration damping seats. The vibration control design can be
consider as an engineering problem that can be used through professions who are well qualified
as well as various factors that are specific to the individual workers to provide the choice
regarding the vibration isolation material as well as methods of the machine mounting.
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CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Type
The type of research also can be consider as the nature of the research. Mainly
researchers prefer two research types that can help them to develop proper research on the
specific research topic. These two types are qualitative research type and other one is
quantitative research type. The aim of quantitative research type is to perform survey and study
that are aimed to identify the facts and numerical data that can help to find out conclusion for the
specific issue that is considered in the research work. In the qualitative research type is used to
analyse the available information and data to perform evaluation. The data considered in this
approach is gathered from books, journals and articles. In this research work qualitative research
type approach is used to find critical information about the physical risk factor which are need to
be reduced (Almalki, 2016). This research type is used in this research because this approach can
help to gather factual and conditional information about the topic.
Research design
The research design is basically considered as the collection of various methods and
processes that can be used in the research project to measure all the variables and information
that can help to find effective information related to the research topic. Mostly researcher use
descriptive, Exploratory, Casual design. The exploratory research design is focused to explore
information about the specific topic and descriptive research design focused on characteristics
related to the specific topic. The casual research design is used to evaluate the impact of specific
change in current situations. For these research project Exploratory research design is used to
explore information in order to find better processes to reduce the impact of physical risk agents
on people of nursing care organization.
Research approach
A research project starts with a mentality or mind set. This mind set lead the whole
research project and various processes that can help to meet objective of the research work. It
also can be considered as hypothesis to to study some critical points that are related to particular
research topic (Queirós, Faria and Almeida, 2017). There are three research approaches are used
by researcher, which are- Deductive, inductive and abductive approach. Deductive approach test
the validity of various assumptions related to topic. Inductive research is used to develop new
theory or concept about the research topic and abductive research is used for surprising elements
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that are connected to the particular subject. For this research inductive approach is used to find
new processes and methods to mitigate the risk factors of nursing homes or health care
organizations.
Research philosophy
Research philosophy is considered as the belief of the researcher for the particular
research work. This is all about the way or process that will be used in the research process to
gather data, analyse the facts & information and data to complete the research work. This also
can be related to the relevance of the research (Baran, 2016). There are different research
philosophies are used by the researchers to complete the research work. Some of the main
research philosophies are positivism, realism and interpretivism. For the research relate to the
physical risk agents at nursing homes and it is important for consider the real information in
order to find better solutions for the issues and risks factors that can be faced by people. Realism
research philosophy is used in order to keep the collected data relevant and practical. This
philosophy can help the researcher to present best effective solution for the risk factors in
nursing homes.
Data collection
This is one of the most important part of the research project where detailed information
and data is collected form the sources that are considered for research purpose. This is all about
the processes that are used to collect the data from particular sources. There are two type of data
collection techniques are used in research project which are primary data collection and other
one is secondary data collection (Nardi, 2018). In primary data collection process primary data
sources like authorities that are related to the related organization or research topic. In the
secondary data collection approach secondary sources of information like Books, Journals and
articles are used by the research to collect information related to topic of research. In this
research practical information of nursing home is required so secondary collection process is
used. This data collection approach can help to collect various possible conditions and physical
risk factors in nursing homes.
Data analysis
Data analysis is a process that is used by the researcher to analyse data and information
that is collected in the data collection process. For the data analysis different approached and
techniques are used by researcher. For this research project thematic data analysis is used to find
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out the physical risk factors at nursing homes and specific solution to mitigate this risk agents.
This data analysis is suitable for report because it can provide opportunity to analyse information
detailed manner to understand these physical risk factors. In this research project thematic
analysis is used in order to evaluate the different type of information that is collected in the data
collection process (Hennink, Hutter and Bailey, 2020). To find out the solution for the various
physical risk factors it is important for analyse each problem in specific and detailed manner to
provide effective solutions.
Ethical considerations
For the research work there are different ethical standards are used in order to make
research work more relevant and reliable for readers who can use this research as a base to
develop knowledge and conduct further research related to the topic. In this research project
different ethical standards are followed. The safety, security and privacy of respondents is also
considered in the research process. All the respect and dignity has been maintained in the
research process. All the communicational requirements that are need to made in process has
been followed with in the data collection process. All type of misconducts and irregularities are
prevented in process of accessing respondents. In the research process all data security and safety
measures are considered to ensure the safety and privacy of people who were involved in data
collection process.
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CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS
Theme 1 - Type of Physical Risk Agents in Nursing Homes
The places like Nursing homes consists of various devices, equipments, tools, chemicals
and processes which can cause various problem to the patients and staff members (Huang and
Bowblis, 2018). These factors are consists of high risk and danger which can mentally or
physically affect the health condition of people. Some of major risk factors that are present with
in the nursing homes are related to nursing tools & devices, processes and ergonomic issues.
These are the sources of risk factors in a nursing home. The issues and risk factors that are faced
by people are related to the result of various operations that are including different medical tools,
devices and other processes (Dickman, Himmelstein and Woolhandler, 2017). The main impact
of these actions and operations cause issues that can affect the physical health of patients. The
tools and techniques that are used in medical process cause various physical agents like noise,
Vibration, optical radiation and Electromagnetic field. These agents can affect health of both
patients and staff members.
Noise
There are different tools and processes are used in nursing in order to provide medical
support to patients. Noise can be considered as unwanted sound that is completely disagreeable
for people who lives around (Melnick and Shanks, 2017). This situation is more critical for the
patients who are present near to the source of noise. It can cause different issues to patients along
with normal people who works in the nursing home. There are machines and medical tools which
are used in the nursing practices also cause noise pollution that can cause various issues to the
patients and other people. For example the tools like Diaphragm pumps, solenoid valves and
fans. These are some devices that cause most of noise pollution in nursing homes (Emberson and
Trautrims, 2019). Some devices like MRI machine also cause noise that can cause irritating
sound which is not good for health of patient and it also can cause different issues to nursing
staff.
This presence of noise with in the nursing home or health care organization can cause
various issues that can be consider as physical risk factors for patients and staff members. The
impact of noise on the hearing could be temporary or permanent. With this noise people feel
temporary deafness and it also can cause irritation to them (Hamers, 2017). This deafness can
take time to get back to normal. Frequent contact with this kind of noise can also cause
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permanent damage to hearing capacity. For patient this situation is more critical. Mainly for
small children and old people because there are too vulnerable for this situation. Prolonged
exposure of noise can cause tinnitus, which is known as sensation of noise in ears. This tinnitus
also can occur with permanent hearing loss. This is how noise is one of physical agent that can
cause issues to patients and nursing staff.
Vibration
Vibration is also one of the main issue that is faced by people with in the health care
organization and nursing homes. This also can be considered as rapid movement and oscillating
movement of objects (Kong, Song and Evans, 2017). This physical risk is dangerous for both
nursing staff and patients. For the patient this oscillation can cause disturbance in taking rest and
concentrating on various activities which are part of their treatment. This also can cause issues to
nursing staff by affecting their focus on caring process of people and it also can cause irritation
to them in providing services to patients. This is also dangerous in condition where precise
surgeries and operations. Frequent and faster oscillation also can cause noise pollution. The
vibration that are too strong can cause major impact on the bones of individual person (Eckelman
and Sherman, 2016). This is how vibration is also a major physical risk agent in the health care
organization.
Optical Radiation
There are some devices that are used in the medical process which are using the light
beams and exposure of light radiation that can cause physical damage to the health of patient and
other people who frequently come in contact with optical radiation. Some of the devices like X-
Ray, MRI are consists of Alpha radiation, Beta Radiation, UV radiation and infrared radiation
which are too dangerous for exposure, contact with alpha and beta radiation can cause diseases
like Cancer, skin infection, genetic brain tumour and damage to the eyesight (Abdeljawad and
Mrayyan, 2016). For treatment of some skin diseases ultraviolet light sources are used that can
affect the eyes, skin and other part of body. This is how over and prolonged exposure of this rays
can affect the health of individual person. These are some more critical problems that are result.
Frequent contact and exposure to radiation can increase the risk of damage. The impact of Ultra
Violate and infrared radiation is also huge on the health condition of the patients and nursing
staff. The exposure of infrared radiation and ultraviolet radiation can cause redness in skin and
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sometimes the prolonged exposure can severely damage the skin and cause 2nd to 3rd degree burn
which is dangerous for people (Evans and Stoddart, 2017).
Electromagnetic Fields
There are some medical devices are used in the health care organization that are consists
of electrical and magnetic circuits that can produce electromagnetic field with lower or higher
intensity. For example solenoids used in medical process can cause electromagnetic field of
medium intensity and medical devices like MRI can cause electromagnetic field of high density
(Edwards and Winkel, 2018). The level of risk is low in Electromagnetic field with less intensity
but in case of high intense electromagnetic field that is caused by devices is too high and it can
cause major damage if there is any metallic object is around the place. This strong field can
energise other metallic objects that can cause danger later.
This is how there are some risk factors are possible in nursing homes that can cause
damage and health issues to the patients and Health care and nursing staff.
Impact of Risk Agents on Health of Patients
This is important for the health care organization to provide better facility to the patients
for better and faster recovery. But due to these risk agents patients can feel of suffer various
health conditions and issues. Some of the risk and health issues ans problems are common and
can be resolved using precautions and prevention methods (Winkel and Westgaard, 2019). These
risk factors can affect the health and safety of people. For example, exposure to chemicals with
in the organization can use major damage to patients and staff members. It can cause burning and
skin infection to the people who were contact with chemical exposure. There are some physical
dangers are also possible in the nursing home are- Noise, radiation, slips trips and falls. These
are some other factors that can be included in the physical agents. Noise can cause temporary of
permanent hearing damage. Exposure to the extreme radiation also can cause diseases that are
related to skin and muscles. Some of the diseases that are result of the exposure to radiation are
cancer, skin cancer, brain Tumour, vision loss and various type of skin infection. These are some
common issues that are faced by people due to radiation (LaPorte, R.J., 2017). The ergonomic
issues in structural design of can cause major issues and hazards like heavy lifting, obstacles and
barriers in movement of people with in organization that can cause major or minor injury to
patients and nursing staff of organization. These are some major impact of physical agents in
nursing home or organization.
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Prevention and Control to Mitigate Impact of Physical Risk Agents
There are different process and techniques can be used to mitigate the issues that are
faced by people with in the nursing organization due to physical risk agents (Swinton, Cooper
and Hancock, 2017). For each type of physical risk agent different strategy or technology can be
used as solution. Noise is major issue that can cause different type of trouble to patients and
nursing. It can also cause barrier in the communication and intervention process that is used by
nursing staff. To avoid noise issues in nursing homes sound proof building material can be used
to prevent extra noise. The units like ICU's and Critical care unit can be Isolated to prevent noise.
The issues and risk factors related to vibration can be mitigate by using damping tools and shock
absorbing external structure for device that include oscillation that cause vibration. This can help
the organization to prevent vibration in building structure. There are some interventions process
and medical processes used in nursing homes that consists of radiation sources. To prevent the
over exposure of these radiation different protective gears can be used to prevent any severe
impact on health. The ergonomic issues with in the nursing home can be resolved by considering
various standards related to the structure of health care organization to implement respective
changes. This process can help to prevent the issues related to falling and slips in movement
activities (Marshall, Villeneuve and Grenier, 2018). The issues and risks that are associated to
electromagnetic field can be reduced by using various enclosed concrete structure or chambers
around the devices like MRI and X-Ray to prevent other people from exposure. This is how
different issues related to physical risk agents can be addressed. There are some other changes
also can be made in the nursing and care homes to avoid these issues related to physical risk
elements. There are some innovative technologies are available in organization that can be used
in order to reduce the negative impact of these factors. Regular maintenance of nursing
equipments and tools can be performed in order to reduce vibration, noise with in its functioning.
To reduce the issues related to the ergonomic issues with in nursing some of structural changes
can be made to reduce the number of accidents of falling, slips trips and heavy lifting. By using
protection gears can be used in the operations of devices that can affect health condition of
people. For example protecting glasses and radiation proof sheets can be used to prevent direct
exposure of radiation and electromagnetic field (Juhanson and Merisalu, 2017). This is how
various processes can be used in the organization to get better results with these physical risk
agents. By using specific standards and guidelines to reduce sever health causes on patients.
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CHAPTER 5 RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION
This report is concluding various type of physical risk agents that are present in the
nursing homes. As per information that collected in the research project there are various
physical risk agents can be found with in the health care or nursing care organization. In this
report most common physical risk agents has been studied and analysed to know how these
factors can affect people and various intervention process that are used in treatment of patients
and providing health and personal care to them. In the initial part of the report brief background
of research topic has been provided in order to get knowledge about what are physical risk agents
with in nursing homes. To address meet the requirement of research process various research
objectives and research question has been formed (van der Beek and Coenen, 2019). Further, in
report these research questions has been used to develop knowledge and data base to avoid the
impact of these physical risk agents. To complete the research project there are different
methodologies are used. These methodologies have been explained in detailed manner to avoid
loop holes and research gaps in research project. To develop knowledge of various physical risk
agents, perspective of various authors has been studied to develop primary knowledge of
research topic. The information which is developed by studying work of other authors related to
the topic in order to lead the process of research work.
The physical risk agents like noise, vibration, optical radiation and electromagnetic fields
has been studied in report. The sources of noise that can cause issue to medical staff and patients
has been studied in report to analyse how it can cause trouble to patients and nursing staff of
nursing home. Various tools and sources that produce strong vibration inside and outside
organization has been analysed to known their impact on the operations and health condition of
the people. These sources of vibration has been studied to find effective solution to reduce the
level of oscillations in order to reduce its impact of operations with in nursing organization.
Some of intervention process that includes the radiation sources has been studied in the research
project to evaluate what are the impacts of these devices and processes. Physical impact of these
radiation sources has been evaluated for the health condition of patients in order to reduce its
impact on their health condition. Devices that use the electromagnetic field to perform
intervention program or health tests has been studied to known the impact of these
electromagnetic field on health of patients who go through it. All possible physical risk agents
that are present in nursing homes has been analysed and evaluated to found better solution to
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reduce their impact on physical and mental health of patients and nursing staff along with its
impact on various processes that are used in providing health care services to people. There are
different processes and methods can be used in the health care organization to reduce the impact
of these physical agents that are capable to affect the intervention processes and health of people
who are living in Health care organization.
To reduce the impact of these physical risk agents various strategies and processes can be
used and implemented in working practices of nursing home to provide better suitable conditions
to the staff of nursing home and patients. As per the information that has been collected in report
there are some issues faced by staff members and patients due to the structural design of
organization building. These issues are known as ergonomic issues. The ergonomic issued with
organization also has been analysed in the research project to find possible risk factors that are
associated with it. On the basis of analysis various suggestion has been provided in report that
can help management and authority of the nursing home to make proper changes in the structure
of the nursing home to reduce the barriers in movement of patients and staff members on the
work floor. There are some challenges are faced by patients due to this physical factors in
recovery process. The physical risk agents that are studied in research process has been evaluated
to find their impact on intervention and recovery process of patient to make changes in the
recovery process and changing process to avoid the severe impact of these factors on operation
of organization and health condition of patients.
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