The Power of the Pause

In my prior work as a practicing nurse, I learned that prevention doesn’t always look like a new protocol or an extra checklist. Often, it showed up as a brief pause during care that was already happening. These “prevention moments” are the small, intentional observations that stop harm before it starts—in acute care settings where time and staff are limited, and in post-acute settings where patients are fragile and risks can escalate quickly.

Being vigilant at all times

In my experience, some of the most effective prevention moments occur during routine touchpoints: rounding, handoff, mobility assistance, medication passes and activities of daily living. Repositioning can be a chance to offload bony prominences, redistribute pressure and check skin. Mobility sessions can reveal changes in strength, balance or energy. Even brief conversations can uncover subtle shifts in awareness or appetite that may signal infection or decline.

What’s often missed isn’t the big issue—it’s the small one. Ignoring minor moisture, leaving clutter in a room, or postponing catheter removal “one more day” can allow small problems to snowball.

Prevention is built into the work you already do

I’ve found that consistent attention to details is where prevention wins can add up for healthcare providers. When caregivers are already repositioning a patient, assisting with hygiene or helping someone get comfortable, those interactions become powerful opportunities to protect skin, prevent infections and reduce device-related harm. These are not separate tasks; they’re microchecks and micro-adjustments that naturally fit into daily routines.

A prevention moment might be as simple as noticing:

• A wrinkle in a bedsheet
• Small area of redness
• Cloudy urine
• A patient who seems a bit quieter than usual or is eating less
• Heels that feel warmer than usual
• A catheter bag that has been left resting on the bed instead of hanging freely

These situations could all be easy to miss or dismiss. But when noticed and considered in your prevention efforts, your team can help prevent pressure injuries, CAUTIs, CLABSIs and other conditions.

Even brief lapses in catheter or line management can increase infection risk—every additional hour of central line use incrementally raises CLABSI risk.

When noticing made a difference

One of my most memorable examples involved a caregiver who noticed a patient repeatedly sliding down in bed and quietly expressing discomfort. Instead of adjusting the position and moving on, the caregiver spoke up. A quick skin check revealed early sacral redness, and the team responded with offloading and mobility adjustments. Within 48 hours, the redness resolved—averting a serious pressure injury.

The most powerful prevention habit is intentional noticing: a quick scan during every interaction. It doesn’t add time, and it changes outcomes. When prevention becomes part of the rhythm of care, small moments protect patients in big ways.