A nurse is preparing an in-service presentation about preventing health care associated infections (HAIs).
The nurse should include which of the following as a common cause of these infections?

These are some of the criteria used to assist in making the diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) according to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) 2015 report.

Choice B is wrong because recent exposure to influenza is not a criterion for CFS diagnosis. Although some cases of CFS may be triggered by viral infections, such as Epstein-Barr virus or human herpes virus 6, there is no specific evidence that influenza causes CFS.

Choice A is correct because CFS is not caused by a primary condition. CFS is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning that other possible causes of fatigue, such as sleep disorders, anemia, diabetes, thyroid problems, or mental health issues, must be ruled out before making the diagnosis.

Choice C is correct because unrefreshing sleep is one of the required symptoms for CFS diagnosis. Patients with CFS may not feel better or less tired even after a full night of sleep despite the absence of specific objective sleep alterations. Choice D is correct because fatigue that is not relieved by stress reduction is another required symptom for CFS diagnosis. Patients with CFS experience post-exertional malaise (PEM), which means that their symptoms worsen after physical, mental, or emotional exertion that would not have caused a problem before the illness.

Choice E is correct because severe tiredness for 2 months or more is one of the additional manifestations that must be present for CFS diagnosis. The IOM 2015 report states that the fatigue associated with CFS must last for more than 6 months and occur at least half the time at moderate, substantial or severe intensity.

The role of the risk manager is to identify and analyze the factors that contributed to the adverse event and to implement strategies to prevent or reduce the likelihood of recurrence. The risk manager is not concerned with assigning blame or protecting the staff from litigation, but rather with improving the quality and safety of care.

Choice A is wrong because it implies a punitive approach that does not address the underlying system issues.

Choice B is wrong because it suggests a defensive attitude that does not foster a culture of learning and improvement.

Choice D is wrong because it assumes that the nurses were not aware of the patient’s fall risk, which may not be the case.

The risk manager should investigate all aspects of the situation, including the communication and documentation of the patient’s fall risk assessment and interventions.