WEST COAST UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF NURSING
NATIONAL PATIENT SAFETY GOALS (NPSG)
NAME: _______________________ NURSING COURSE: ________ DATE: _________
Go to the course pbworks site for your course. Access the National Patient Safety Goals
handout and answer the following questions. Turn in the completed test to your clinical
instructor on the second day of clinical.
1. Which NPSG states “Inform and encourage components and practitioner sties to implement
the applicable National Patient Safety Goals and associated requirements”?
a. Patient Safety Goal 1
b. Patient Safety Goal 4
c. Patient Safety Goal 11
d. Patient Safety Goal 12
2. Which statement best describes the focus of the NPSG? (last sentence in first paragraph “What
are the NPSG?)
a. Reduce the risk of medical errors and to increase patient safety.
b. To prevent sentinel events that has been reported to Joint Commission.
c. NPSG allows hospitals to submit alternative approaches to the requirements.
d. Encourages patient’s active involvement in their own care as a patient safety strategy.
3. Which intervention should the nurse implement when taking a telephone order from the health
care provider? (NPSG #2 first bullet)
a. The nurse must have another nurse listen on the phone.
b. The nurse must “read back” the complete order.
c. The nurse should refuse to take a telephone order.
d. The nurse must have the order co-signed within 8 hours.
4. Which requirements are included in the NPSG “the organization identifies safety risks
inherent in its patient population”? (NPSG # 15)
a. The organization identifies patients being treated for emotional or behavioral disorders in
general hospitals.
b. The organization identifies risks associated with long-term oxygen therapy such as home fires.
c. The organization identifies patients at risk for suicide for patient in a psychiatric facility.
d. All of the above.
5. Which NPSG addresses “implement fall reduction program and evaluate the effectiveness the
program”?
a. NPSG 8
b. NPSG 9
c. NPSG 10
d. NPSG 14
6. Which interventions are included in the NPSG “reduce the risk of health care-acquired
infections”? (NPSG # 7)
a. Implement regular preventive maintenance and testing alarm settings.
b. Implement a process to mark the surgical site, and involve the patient in the marking process.
c. Use at least two patient identifiers when providing care, treatment, or services.
d. Comply with current CDC hand hygiene guidelines.
7. Which order is written correctly according to NPSG #2? (#2 doesn’t give specific but student
should find out – must spell out unit, should be 0.25, qd should be every day)
a. Administer 4 u regular insulin.
b. Administer .25 mg digoxin.
c. Administer 10 units NPH insulin.
d. Administer stool softener qd.
8. How many NPSG were developed initially? (first paragraph)
a. 6
b. 9
c. 10
d. 15
9. Which NPSG addresses “implement a standardized approach to “hand off” communication
including an opportunity to ask and respond to questions?”
a. NPSG #2
b. NPSG #3
c. NPSG #5
d. NPSG #7
10. Which interventions are included in NPSG # 8?
a. The complete list of the medications is provided to the patient on discharge from the facility.
b. Implement a process of comparing the patient’s current medications with those ordered for the
patient.
c. A complete list of patient’s medications is communicated to the next provider of service when
the patient is referred to another setting.
d. All of the above.
11. Which intervention is “develop and implement a protocol to identify new cases of influenza
and to manage an outbreak”?
a, NPSG #9.
b. NPSG #10
c. NPSG #11
d. NPSG #12
12. The nurse administering medication to a patient checks the hospital identification band and
ask the their date of birth. Which NPSG is the nurse implementing correctly?
a. NPSG #1
b. NPSG #4
c. NPSG #8
D. NPSG #10
13. Which group must review an alternate approach to the requirement associated with the
NPSG? (next to last line under “Can the organization submit an alternate approach”)
a. The Joint Commission.
b. JACHO
c. Sentinel Event Advisory Group
d. National Patient Goal Safety Group
14, How many National Patient Safety Goals are there as of 2010?
a. 6
b. 8
c. 12
d. 15
15. Which interventions are included in NPSG #3?
a. Standardize a list of abbreviations, acronyms, symbols, and dose designations that are not to
be used throughout the organization.
b. Standardize and limit the number of drug concentrations available in the organization.
c. Ensure free-flow protection on all generated-se and PCA intravenous infusion pumps used in
the organization
d. All of the above.
16. The nurse in the surgical unit asks the patient, “Which knee is your doctor going to do
surgery?” The patient responds, “my right knee” but the surgical permit states left knee. Which
action should the surgical nurse take first? (NPSG #1)
a. Change the surgical permit to read right knee.
b. Notify the operating room of the discrepancy.
c. Ask the patient’s significant other to clarify.
d. Call a “time out” to clarify the situation.
17. Which statement best describes a sentinel event according to the Joint Commission? (looked
up definition at Joint Commission web site)
a. A sentinel event is an unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical or
psychological injury, or the risk thereof.
b. A sentinel event is an event that occurs at least ten times in one month and requires medication
intervention.
c. A sentinel event is a disagreement between the medical staff and the nursing staff which must
be resolved in a committee.
d. A sentinel event is an ethical dilemma where the patient’s request and the health care team are
not congruent.
18. Which NPSG address safety in operating room environment?
a. NPSG #9
b. NPSG #11
c. NPSG # 13
d. NPSG # 14
19. Which interventions are included in the NPSG “prevent health-care associated pressure
ulcers? (NPSG #14)
a. Assess and periodically reassess each resident’s risk for developing a pressure ulcer.
b. Take actions to address any identified risks for developing a pressure ulcer.
c. Turn the client every 2 hours while the client is awake.
d. A & B
20. Which concentrated electrolyte must be removed from patient care units?
a. Calcium gluconate.
b. Magnesium sulfate.
c. Potassium chloride.
d. Zinc oxide.