Standing
Undergraduate
Type of Proposal
Visual Presentation (Poster, Installation, Demonstration)
Faculty
Faculty of Nursing
Faculty Sponsor
Dr. Sheila Boamah
Proposal
Title: Safety Practices in Long Term Care Facilities: A Review of the Literature Background: Canada’s aging population and the shortage of long-term care (LTC) facilities is creating a growing concern for older adults and their families. This is placing additional stress and demand on the already resource-constrained healthcare system, including shortages of care staff/support workers. The shortage of care staff in LTC facilities has grave impact on the safety and quality of care that residents receive. Common safety concerns in LTC facilities include risks for falls, medication errors, nosocomial infections, and pressure ulcers. Purpose: The purpose of this literature review is to explore studies that have been conducted on the relationship between safety practices and resident outcomes in LTC facilities in North America. Method: A literature search was conducted using databases such as CINAHL, ProQuest, PubMeb, Scholars Portal, and Google Scholar. Search terms included “patient safety” or “staff shortages” and “long term care” or “nursing homes”. Inclusion criteria included North American literature written in English and published in 2008-2018. Using the search terms listed, the databases yielded 32 results. After reviewing the articles, 15 met the inclusion criteria and were selected for the purposes of this literature review. The literature identified that care provider staffing is associated with quality of care in LTC facilities. The literature also suggested the following safety practices; increased staffing, education and training for care providers, improved communication, maintaining independence in residents, and teamwork strategies. Summary: LTC facilities are charged with ensuring the safety of their residents in their facilities, and therefore, every effort must be made to address safety issues in order to improve the quality of care and quality of life of residents. Key terms: patient safety, patient outcomes, long-term care facilities, care staff, personal support workers, staff shortages
Location
CAW Student Centre, University of Windsor
Grand Challenges
Viable, Healthy and Safe Communities
Safety Practices in Long Term Care Facilities: A Review of the Literature
CAW Student Centre, University of Windsor
Title: Safety Practices in Long Term Care Facilities: A Review of the Literature Background: Canada’s aging population and the shortage of long-term care (LTC) facilities is creating a growing concern for older adults and their families. This is placing additional stress and demand on the already resource-constrained healthcare system, including shortages of care staff/support workers. The shortage of care staff in LTC facilities has grave impact on the safety and quality of care that residents receive. Common safety concerns in LTC facilities include risks for falls, medication errors, nosocomial infections, and pressure ulcers. Purpose: The purpose of this literature review is to explore studies that have been conducted on the relationship between safety practices and resident outcomes in LTC facilities in North America. Method: A literature search was conducted using databases such as CINAHL, ProQuest, PubMeb, Scholars Portal, and Google Scholar. Search terms included “patient safety” or “staff shortages” and “long term care” or “nursing homes”. Inclusion criteria included North American literature written in English and published in 2008-2018. Using the search terms listed, the databases yielded 32 results. After reviewing the articles, 15 met the inclusion criteria and were selected for the purposes of this literature review. The literature identified that care provider staffing is associated with quality of care in LTC facilities. The literature also suggested the following safety practices; increased staffing, education and training for care providers, improved communication, maintaining independence in residents, and teamwork strategies. Summary: LTC facilities are charged with ensuring the safety of their residents in their facilities, and therefore, every effort must be made to address safety issues in order to improve the quality of care and quality of life of residents. Key terms: patient safety, patient outcomes, long-term care facilities, care staff, personal support workers, staff shortages