Abu Dhabi DOH Standards & Patient Safety Flashcards

What is the nurse's responsibility during a fire in an Abu Dhabi healthcare facility (RACE protocol)?

Answer: Rescue patients in immediate danger, Activate the alarm, Confine the fire by closing doors, Extinguish/Evacuate

The RACE protocol: R — Rescue (move patients in immediate danger), A — Activate alarm, C — Confine (close doors/windows to limit spread), E — Extinguish with fire extinguisher if safe, or Evacuate. The sequence prioritizes human life first.

What does the 'patient fall risk assessment' score determine in a DOH-regulated hospital?

Answer: Level of fall prevention interventions required (bed alarm, non-slip footwear, call bell within reach, supervision)

Validated fall risk tools (Morse Fall Scale, STRATIFY) categorize patients as low/medium/high risk. Higher risk scores trigger more intensive interventions: bed/chair alarms, frequent rounding, non-slip footwear, bed in lowest position, call bell accessible, and in some cases additional supervision.

A nurse in Abu Dhabi discovers a medication dispensing error that reached the patient but caused no harm. Should this be reported?

Answer: Yes — near misses and no-harm events must still be reported through the incident management system

A just culture of patient safety requires reporting all adverse events, near misses, and no-harm events. Near-miss reporting is especially valuable as it identifies system vulnerabilities before serious harm occurs. DOH standards mandate a non-punitive reporting environment to encourage disclosure.

Which procedure is used in Abu Dhabi healthcare facilities to safely handle chemotherapy waste?

Answer: Double bag in purple/black chemotherapy waste bags, seal, label as cytotoxic, dispose in dedicated cytotoxic waste stream

Cytotoxic/chemotherapy waste poses a carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic hazard. Dedicated purple cytotoxic waste bags, double-bagging, closed-loop disposal, PPE (gown, gloves, mask), and segregation from other clinical waste are required per DOH and international waste management standards.

What is a 'sentinel event' as defined by JCI and DOH Abu Dhabi standards?

Answer: An unexpected occurrence involving death, serious physical or psychological injury, or the risk thereof

A sentinel event (JCI definition) is an unexpected occurrence causing or risking serious harm or death. Examples: wrong-site surgery, retained surgical items, patient suicide in hospital, transfusion incompatibility. These require a Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to identify system failures.

A nurse in Abu Dhabi is caring for a patient from a non-Arabic-speaking background who does not understand English. What is required before obtaining informed consent?

Answer: Arrange for a trained medical interpreter (not family member) to facilitate communication

DOH standards and international ethics require that patients understand information before consenting. Trained medical interpreters ensure accuracy, neutrality, and confidentiality. Family interpreters may omit, add, or alter information and create conflicts of interest. Language barriers must not delay emergency care but must be addressed for informed consent.