NURS9219: Improving Patient Safety in ICU - Annotated Bibliography

This annotated bibliography examines the critical aspects of improving patient safety within the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). It synthesizes information from five research articles, focusing on essential nursing interventions, strategies to minimize medical errors, and effective patient transfer protocols. The ...Read More

Running head: IMPROVING PATIENT SAFETY IN ICU 1
Improving Patient Safety under Acute Care in ICU
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliations
Date

IMPROVING PATIENT SAFETY IN ICU 2
Improving Patient Safety under Acute Care in ICU
Introduction
This assignment will describe the important nursing interventions used in improving
the improvement of patient safety in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Arranging and
performing patient transfers in the Intensive Care Unit are the routine functions and
responsibilities of nurses and other professionals in the healthcare setting (Singer, Lin,
Falwell, Gaba, & Baker, 2009). Ultimate approaches are provided in the literature for
improving patient safety during transfers and transportation processes. This research paper
aims to describe some of the effective strategies to be used in improving patient safety in the
ICU department. This paper involves critical analysis and evaluation of the articles and/or
literature materials containing insightful information for ensuring efficacy services to patients
under acute care. The Intensive Care Units (ICUs) provide lifesaving care services to patients
in critical conditions (Cameron et al., 2015). The analysis of the literature has shown that
patients under acute care are normally affected by significant risks during different events
and practices in healthcare setting.
Serious medical errors may also occur from the interactions between healthcare
officers from a different department (Cecconi, et al., 2015). Also, the association between
healthcare professionals and patients may result in serious medical errors and events. This
paper review five articles from credible sources in the process of identifying appropriate
nursing strategies and approaches to be used in improving patient safety and overall
outcomes in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs). an annotated bibliography is used in this
research because a wide range of information can be obtained for ensuring effective practice
in nursing services; therefore, providing appropriate strategies for improving patient safety in
ICUs. A quantitative methodology was used in the research based on the data representation

IMPROVING PATIENT SAFETY IN ICU 3
provided in the selected literature materials. Appropriate research questions are developed in
the study to guide in the identification of relevant strategies and interventions to be used in
improving patient safety in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs).
Research questions
What are the appropriate interventions used in improving patient safety in the ICUs?
How can nurses reduce medical errors in the ICUs?
How can nurses ensure safety in the transfer of patients under acute care?
How does early mobilization in the ICUs improve patient safety?
What is the appropriate medical surveillance used in improving patient safety in ICUs?
Dubb, R., Nydahl, P., Hermes, C., Schwabbauer, N., Toonstra, A., Parker, A. M., &
Needham, D. M. (2016). Barriers and strategies for the early mobilization of patients
in intensive care units. Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 13(5), 724-730.
The conducted research was about the strategies and barriers to immediate
mobilization of the critically injured patients in the ICUs. In this article, various
approaches are provided for improving patient safety through mobilization as a
therapeutic model. The setting of the research is the ICU and the participants are
nurses and medical officers. A quantitative approach is used in the research while
interviews were conducted to identify the views of the health care officers on how the
early mobilization of patients in the ICUs improves their safety. 10 nurses and two
medical officers were interviewed. 6 nurses and 1 medical officer supported the
mobilization strategy in the healthcare setting. Early mobilization of patients suffering
from acute respiratory condition improves their recovery and prevents stigmatization.
Also, early mobilization of patients with serious fractures improves their safety

IMPROVING PATIENT SAFETY IN ICU 4
because it prevents the chances of developing disorders related to immobilization like
varicose veins. After a critical analysis and evaluation of the article, it is evident that
the authors did not provided comprehensive information on how to minimize the
barriers of early mobilization; therefore, interfering with the nursing interventions for
promoting patient safety.
Etchells, E., Koo, M., Daneman, N., McDonald, A., Baker, M., Matlow, A., & Mittmann, N.
(2012). Comparative economic analyses of patient safety improvement strategies in
acute care: a systematic review. BMJ quality & safety, 21(6), 448-456.
The research was about how to improve the safety and quality of services offered to
patients under acute care. The research was conducted to identify the appropriate and
economical strategies that can be used to improve patient safety in the Intensive Care
Units (ICUs). The setting of the study provided in this article was ICUs and the
research participants were nurses working in the ICU department. 4 nurses, 2 social
workers, and 2 clinical officers were selected to form the research. A quantitative
methodology was applied in the research while a survey method was used in the
collection of data. After an analysis of the collected data, it was found that three
nurses and the two clinical officers recommended for the use of live simulation in
ensuring effective training and professional competence. Live simulation is a cheap
strategy that can be used to reduce medical errors and promote patient safety.
Comparative analysis of the economic factors does not promote patient safety in
healthcare facilities with many patients in the ICUs.

IMPROVING PATIENT SAFETY IN ICU 5
Henneman, E. A., Gawlinski, A., & Giuliano, K. K. (2012). Surveillance: a strategy for
improving patient safety in acute and critical care units. Critical Care Nurse, 32(2),
e9-e18.
The research was about how to improve patient safety through medical surveillance.
This literature provides insightful information on how medical surveillance promotes
safety of patients under acute care. Nurses are required to ensure teamwork and
interdisciplinary interaction as a process of improving safety of patients in the
Intensive care Units (ICUs). A quantitative methodology used in the research ensured
the effective approach was applied in the collection of research data. Interviews are
appropriate research methods in the collection and analysis of research data based on
the views of the participants and the setting of the study. The national surveillance
strategy is important in improving patient safety and outcomes in the ICUs. The
author also recommends the use of national campaigns to promote professional
competence in all nursing practices. The article does not provide comprehensive
information on how surveillance effectively promote safety of patients under critical
care.
Needham, D. M., Korupolu, R., Zanni, J. M., Pradhan, P., Colantuoni, E., Palmer, J. B., &
Fan, E. (2010). Early physical medicine and rehabilitation for patients with acute
respiratory failure: a quality improvement project. Archives of physical medicine and
rehabilitation, 91(4), 536-542.
This article provides succinct information on how rehabilitative practices and early
physical medicine help in the process of improving patient safety in ICUs. The
patients under acute care are vulnerable to medical errors due to their conditions. The
medical errors greatly affect the patient in ICUs because of multiple organ

IMPROVING PATIENT SAFETY IN ICU 6
dysfunction and problem due to co-morbidities. The use of a quantitative approach in
the research enables the authors to provide insightful information on how physical
medicine promote patient safety. In most cases, that patient with severe fractures is
required to be given early physical treatment and rehabilitative services to prevent
occurrences of disorders related to prolonged immobilization. The authors also
recommended for immediate and appropriate physical medicine for treatment of
patients with acute respiratory dysfunction. Some of the appropriate physical
medicine to be used for patient with acute respiratory diseases include
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In the other hand, the article does not provide
the possible limitations or challenges related to early medicine like delayed healing of
the fractures.
Welp, A., Meier, L. L., & Manser, T. (2016). The interplay between teamwork, clinicians’
emotional exhaustion, and clinician-rated patient safety: a longitudinal study. Critical
care, 20(1), 110.
This research was conducted to determine how teamwork leads to improvement of
patient safety and promotion of recovery in the ICUs. The participants provided in the
research are nurses and other healthcare professionals. Teamwork and collaboration
reduce medical errors and risks that made undermine the safety of the patient under
acute care. The use of the quantitative methodology in the research ensured that the
views of all participants are considered in the development of appropriate strategies
for improving patient safety in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs). This article does not
provide insightful information on how teamwork of the healthcare officers lead to
patient safety in the ICUs. The cohort study is applied in the collection of data based
on the expectations of the researchers and the research questions provided in the
study.

IMPROVING PATIENT SAFETY IN ICU 7
Conclusion
To conclude, the key takeaways in this research is to develop appropriate medical
interventions and nursing strategies to be used in the improvement of patient safety in the
ICUs. Teamwork and live simulation should be introduced and implemented in the healthcare
setting to promote efficacy in nursing practices and improve safety and satisfaction of
patients under critical care in the ICUs. The improvement of patient safety leads to the
promotion of overall outcomes in the healthcare setting. Turnover practices should also be
improved to improve patient care; therefore, minimizing medical errors and improving
patient safety.

IMPROVING PATIENT SAFETY IN ICU 8
References
Cameron, S., Ball, I., Cepinskas, G., Choong, K., Doherty, T. J., Ellis, C. G., & Fraser, D. D.
(2015). Early mobilization in the critical care unit: A review of adult and paediatric
literature. Journal of critical care, 30(4), 664-672.
Cecconi, M., Hofer, C., Teboul, J. L., Pettila, V., Wilkman, E., Molnar, Z., & Sander, M.
(2015). Fluid challenges in intensive care: the FENICE study. Intensive care
medicine, 41(9), 1529-1537.
Etchells, E., Koo, M., Daneman, N., McDonald, A., Baker, M., Matlow, A., & Mittmann, N.
(2012). Comparative economic analyses of patient safety improvement strategies in
acute care: a systematic review. BMJ quality & safety, 21(6), 448-456.
Dubb, R., Nydahl, P., Hermes, C., Schwabbauer, N., Toonstra, A., Parker, A. M., &
Needham, D. M. (2016). Barriers and strategies for the early mobilization of patients
in intensive care units. Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 13(5), 724-730.
Henneman, E. A., Gawlinski, A., & Giuliano, K. K. (2012). Surveillance: a strategy for
improving patient safety in acute and critical care units. Critical Care Nurse, 32(2),
e9-e18.
Needham, D. M., Korupolu, R., Zanni, J. M., Pradhan, P., Colantuoni, E., Palmer, J. B., &
Fan, E. (2010). Early physical medicine and rehabilitation for patients with acute
respiratory failure: a quality improvement project. Archives of physical medicine and
rehabilitation, 91(4), 536-542.
Singer, S., Lin, S., Falwell, A., Gaba, D., & Baker, L. (2009). Relationship of safety climate
and safety performance in hospitals. Health services research, 44(2p1), 399-421.

IMPROVING PATIENT SAFETY IN ICU 9
Welp, A., Meier, L. L., & Manser, T. (2016). The interplay between teamwork, clinicians’
emotional exhaustion, and clinician-rated patient safety: a longitudinal study. Critical
care, 20(1), 110.