In this section :
- Hospital harm is everyone’s concern
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Hospital Harm Improvement Resource
- How to Use the Hospital Harm Measure for Improvement
- Learning from Harm
- General Patient Safety Quality Improvement and Measurement Resources
- Hypoglycemia: Introduction
- Aspiration Pneumonia: Introduction
- Delirium: Introduction
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Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Introduction
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Discharge Abstract Database
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Importance to Patients and Families
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Measures
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Success Stories
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: References
- Medication Incidents: Introduction
- Obstetric Hemorrhage: Introduction
- Patient Trauma: Introduction
- Pneumonia: Introduction
- Pneumothorax: Introduction
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Post Procedural Infections: Introduction
- Post Procedural Infections: Discharge Abstract Database
- Post Procedural Infections: Importance to Patients and Families
- Post Procedural Infections: Clinical and Systems Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Post Procedural Infections: Measures
- Post Procedural Infections: Success Stories
- Post Procedural Infections: References
- Pressure Ulcer: Introduction
- Sepsis: Introduction
- UTI: Introduction
- Venous Thromboembolism: Introduction
- Wound Disruption: Introduction
- Obstetric Trauma: Introduction
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Procedure-Associated Shock: Introduction
- Procedure-Associated Shock: Discharge Abstract Database
- Procedure-Associated Shock: Importance to Patients and Families
- Procedure-Associated Shock: Clinical and System Review, Incident Analysis
- Procedure-Associated Shock: Measures
- Procedure-Associated Shock: Success Stories
- Procedure-Associated Shock: References
- Selected Serious Events: Introduction
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Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Introduction
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Discharge Abstract Database
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Importance to Patients and Families
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Measures
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Success Stories
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: References
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Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Introduction
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Discharge Abstract Database
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Importance to Patients and Families
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Measures
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Success Stories
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): References
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Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Introduction
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Discharge Abstract Database
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Importance to Patients and Families
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Measures
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Success Stories
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): References
- Birth Trauma: Introduction
- Device Failure: Introduction
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Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Introduction
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Discharge Abstract Database
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Importance to Patients and Families
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Surveillance, Outbreak Management
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Measures
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Success Stories
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: References
- Laceration: Introduction
- Retained Foreign Body: Introduction
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Viral Gastroenteritis: Introduction
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Discharge Abstract Database
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Importance to Patients and Families
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Surveillance, Outbreak Management
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Measures
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Success Stories
- Viral Gastroenteritis: References
Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Importance to Patients and Families
Fluid and electrolyte imbalances are associated with numerous complications, including increased morbidity and mortality, as well as increased hospital length of stay. Hospital patients needing IV fluids are very variable in terms of their fluid and electrolyte status and their likely responses to IV fluid therapy. Therefore, a full assessment is required by a competent clinician regarding the best content, volume and rate of IV fluids to be administered in order to minimize risks associated with fluid and electrolyte therapy (NICE 2013).
Patients have a valuable contribution to make to their fluid balance. If a patient needs IV fluids, the decision should be explained to them along with the signs and symptoms they need to look for if their fluid balance needs adjusting. If possible or when asked, provide written information (for example, NICE's Information for the public), and involve the patient's family members or carers (as appropriate) (NICE 2013).
Patient Stories
- Near Fatal: A Patient Safety Story (Saskatchewan Health Authority - Saskatoon area, 2015)
- Medication Error in the Hospital Kills Two-Year Old Emily Jerry. As told by Christopher S. Jerry (Patient Safety Movement, 2014)
Emily Jerry was diagnosed with a yolk sac tumor about the size of a grapefruit when she was about 18 months old. Her doctors and nurses assured me that Emily's cancer was not only treatable, but curable…Sunday, Feb. 26, after the third day of her last chemotherapy treatment, Emily awoke from her nap groggy. She kept trying to sit up and asked her mom to hold her in her lap. She kept grabbing her head and moaning that it hurt…. She cried some more before she started screaming, "Mommy, my head, my head hurts! MY HEAD HURTS!"…Emily went completely limp and the nurses began to resuscitate her. Within the hour, my precious daughter was on life support. Emily wound up brain dead and on life support – essentially dead due to the massive brain damage she had incurred. Our Emily was killed by an overdose of sodium chloride in her chemotherapy IV bag…..read the full story here.
Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance
