What are the main “machine dysfunctions” to know?

Equipment failure: conducts of nurses and implications for patient safety

“…In a study which listed the main cases of malfunction in equipment, the authors mentioned the frequency of incidents in ICUs and in the anesthesia area and, although they considered that the number of events decreased, there were cases that caused severe adverse effects in patients. The researchers claimed that the inadequate use is the main cause of problems, but stressed that the distinction between technical and human failure is artificial because the cause of harm is multifactorial (7) .…”

“…For instance, equipment failure can be related to obsolescence, inadequate maintenance and lack of control before use. Incorrect handling can be the result of lack of attention, fatigue, negligence, ergonomic issues and insufficient training (7) .…”

“…The management also covers the making of an inventory with the identification and location of equipment and the reservation of devices with similar characteristics for replacement in case of failure or during maintenance, so the unit care routine is not compromised (7) . The use of a checklist and records of the evaluation of equipment have also been a useful strategy to reduce the risk of critical incidents since they guarantee the correct functioning of equipment before they are used.…”

“…The use of a checklist and records of the evaluation of equipment have also been a useful strategy to reduce the risk of critical incidents since they guarantee the correct functioning of equipment before they are used. Violation of this procedure can impair patient safety (7) .…”

“…These causes were mentioned in other studies (1)(2)(3) , in which two reasons were predominant in incidents with equipment. The first one was the inappropriate use of equipment (1,7) . A study about the use of intermittent pneumatic compression devices in critical patients revealed errors in the application in 49% of the 976 observations made in 108 patients, mainly in placing the sleeves in the legs (3) .…”