Mixed Deck — All CHSP Topics Flashcards
100 cards from real CHSP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 20 Mixed Deck — All CHSP Topics flashcards as text
What does the acronym PASS represent when using a portable fire extinguisher?
Answer: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
PASS stands for Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side — the correct sequential technique for operating a portable fire extinguisher.
What does deemed status mean for a healthcare facility accredited by The Joint Commission?
Answer: The facility is deemed to meet CMS Conditions of Participation based on accreditation, reducing need for separate CMS surveys
Deemed status means accreditation by a CMS-approved organization is recognized as meeting most Medicare Conditions of Participation.
A hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission. When a state health department surveyor arrives unannounced, the hospital should:
Answer: Cooperate fully, as state licensure surveys are independent of TJC accreditation
State licensure and TJC accreditation are independent processes; facilities must cooperate with state surveyors regardless of their TJC accreditation status.
A safety manager notices that injury rates are high in one nursing unit but low in another with similar patient acuity. The BEST first step is to:
Answer: Conduct a comparative safety culture survey across both units
A safety culture survey identifies underlying attitudinal and systemic differences between units before implementing targeted interventions.
What is the recommended frequency for conducting an Environment of Care (EOC) risk assessment?
Answer: At least annually
Environment of Care risk assessments should be conducted at least annually to identify and address potential hazards in the healthcare facility.
A hospital laboratory must ship a patient's sputum specimen, which is suspected to contain *Mycobacterium tuberculosis*, to a reference lab for diagnostic testing. How should this specimen be classified for shipment under Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations?
Answer: As a Category B Infectious Substance, UN 3373.
Under DOT regulations, an infectious substance transported for diagnostic purposes that is not in a form capable of causing permanent disability or fatal disease in healthy humans is classified as a Category B Infectious Substance, UN 3373. While a *culture* of Mycobacterium tuberculosis would be classified as Category A, a patient specimen for diagnosis falls under the less stringent Category B requirements.
Which of the following BEST describes the concept of 'psychological safety' as it applies to patient safety culture?
Answer: An environment where team members feel safe to speak up, ask questions, report errors, and challenge unsafe practices without fear of interpersonal repercussions
Psychological safety, as defined by researcher Amy Edmondson and applied widely in healthcare, refers to a climate where individuals believe they will not be punished or humiliated for raising concerns, reporting mistakes, or offering ideas. It is foundational to error reporting and team communication in high-reliability organizations.
A Chief Safety Officer is developing a hospital-wide safety strategic plan. Which step should come FIRST?
Answer: Conducting a baseline safety assessment
A baseline assessment establishes the current state of safety performance, which is essential before goals or resources can be effectively allocated.
Which risk assessment methodology is MOST commonly used by healthcare facilities to prioritize emergency planning efforts by evaluating the probability and impact of various hazards?
Answer: Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA)
The Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA) is the standard tool used by healthcare facilities to systematically assess and prioritize risks based on probability, impact, and preparedness.
Which risk assessment matrix component evaluates consequence severity?
Answer: Impact scale
The impact scale in a risk assessment matrix specifically evaluates the potential severity or magnitude of harm, injury, or loss that could result from a hazard. This scale helps quantify the consequences, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the potential damage if a risk materializes. It is distinct from the probability scale, which assesses the likelihood of an event occurring.
Which metric is MOST useful for evaluating the effectiveness of a healthcare organization's safety management system over time?
Answer: Trend in lagging indicators such as injury rates combined with leading indicators
Combining lagging indicators (past harm data) with leading indicators (proactive safety activities) provides the most comprehensive picture of SMS effectiveness.
During a proactive safety walkthrough, a nurse manager notices a wet floor near a sink but no wet floor sign is available. Which interim control should be implemented IMMEDIATELY?
Answer: Restrict access to the area until it is dry or a sign arrives
Restricting access is the most immediate administrative control that reduces exposure when engineering or signage controls are unavailable.
Which accreditation organization uses the 'NIAHO' standards and employs a continuous survey process instead of triennial surveys?
Answer: DNV GL – Healthcare
DNV GL – Healthcare uses NIAHO standards and conducts annual surveys, integrating ISO 9001 quality management with CMS CoP compliance.
A healthcare facility's safety committee is analyzing injury data and notes a high incidence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among nursing staff, primarily linked to patient repositioning. Which of the following initiatives represents a comprehensive ergonomic hazard control approach?
Answer: Conducting a risk assessment and implementing a Safe Patient Handling and Mobility (SPHM) program that includes mechanical lifts and staff training.
A comprehensive ergonomic approach involves a systematic process of identifying hazards, assessing risks, and implementing controls. A Safe Patient Handling and Mobility (SPHM) program that combines engineering controls (mechanical lifts) with administrative controls (training, policies) is the most effective strategy to reduce MSDs related to patient handling. Relying solely on 'proper body mechanics' training has been shown to be insufficient. Back belts are a form of PPE and are the least effective control measure, with limited evidence of effectiveness.
What is an Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) matrix used for in healthcare construction?
Answer: To evaluate infection risk from construction and determine appropriate precautions based on patient population and project type
The ICRA matrix cross-references construction activity type with patient risk group to determine the appropriate class of precautions.
What is the proper order for donning PPE when entering a patient room under contact and droplet precautions?
Answer: Gown, mask or respirator, eye protection, gloves
The correct donning sequence is gown first, then mask/respirator, then eye protection, and gloves last to cover the gown cuffs.
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Emergency Preparedness Final Rule, how often must a hospital's Emergency Operations Plan, policies, and communication plan be reviewed and updated?
Answer: Annually.
While the 2019 CMS Burden Reduction rule changed the review frequency for some provider types to every two years, hospitals and long-term care (LTC) facilities are still required to review and update their emergency preparedness program, including the EOP and associated plans, at least annually.
A healthcare organization is adopting a High Reliability Organization (HRO) framework. Which HRO principle involves staff speaking up immediately when something seems wrong, even without certainty?
Answer: Deference to expertise
Deference to expertise means that in HROs, authority migrates to the person with the most knowledge of the situation, encouraging frontline staff to raise concerns.
A patient with dementia is found missing from a locked unit. This type of event is classified as:
Answer: A patient elopement requiring a facility-wide security response
Patient elopement — the unauthorized departure of a patient from a healthcare facility — is a distinct security event category requiring an immediate, coordinated response (search protocol, notification of family, incident report, and often regulatory notification). It is not classified as workplace violence or a medication error, and because a vulnerable patient is at risk, it is never a 'near-miss' even if the patient is found unharmed.
Which reporting system encourages healthcare workers to report safety concerns without fear of punishment?
Answer: Non-punitive or just culture reporting system
A non-punitive or just culture reporting system encourages open reporting by assuring reporters they will not be punished for good-faith reports.