Culture of Safety
The Importance of Developing a Culture of Safety
- Nursing is risky business!
- Nursing ranks among the top 10 most hazardous occupations for injuries to muscles and joints, ranking second after industrial work for physical work load intensity.
- Two of the top ten occupations with the greatest number of musculoskeletal injury cases include nursing assistants and nurses.
- Nurses have approximately 30% more days off due to back pain as a percentage of all causes compared with 8% of the general population.
- Of nurses who leave the profession, back pain is the reason for 12% of them.
- Over 52% of nurses experience chronic back pain that has lasted more than 14 days in the past 6 months.
- Avoidable hospitalizations of nursing home residents cost nearly $5 billion annually.
- The age and multiple conditions of LTC residents cause them to be at significant risk for complications that result in added costs and litigation.
- For these reasons, a proactive approach is needed to Create a Culture of Safety and the American Association for Long Term Care Nursing has taken the lead in offering resources, education, and a certification program for Long Term Care Nursing has taken the lead in offering resources, education, and a certification program for Long Term Care Safety Specialists to assist in this effort [click here for more information].
- Recognizing that risks to long term care residents and their caregivers go beyond lifting and moving activities, AALTCN is addressing a wide range of issues that affect safety, such as safe medication use, prevention of pressure ulcers, management of abnormal behaviors, alternatives to restraints, violence, and other risks. AALTCN's education and Long Term Care Safety Specialist Certification provide education and guidance to assist nursing homes in creating a culture of safety.
Downloadable Quick-Fact Sheets
Certification Education
- The Long Term Care Safety Specialist is an important champion of safety within a nursing home. Click here for more information.
Nursing Assistant In-Service Education
CE Education
- FREE for members - Breaking the Falls Cycle
- Creating a Culture of Safety
- Legal Safeguards for Residents, the Facility and You!
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / RESOURCES
