A 65-year-old client with a history of diabetes mellitus was admitted to the hospital for a scheduled knee replacement surgery.
During the postoperative period, the client developed a surgical site infection that required prolonged antibiotic therapy and wound care.
This event is categorized as:
A never event.
A near miss.
An adverse event.
A sentinel event.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale
A never event refers to a particularly shocking medical error (such as wrong-site surgery) that should never occur. A surgical site infection, while unfortunate, does not fall into this category.
Choice B rationale
A near miss refers to an event that could have had adverse consequences but did not, either by chance or timely intervention. In this case, the client did experience an adverse consequence (the infection), so this term does not apply.
Choice C rationale
An adverse event is an injury caused by medical management rather than the underlying disease. In this case, the surgical site infection that developed after the knee replacement surgery can be considered an adverse event.
Choice D rationale
A sentinel event is a specific type of unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical or psychological injury. While serious, a surgical site infection requiring prolonged antibiotic therapy and wound care does not typically fall into this category.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
While medication errors are indeed considered adverse events, this statement does not fully capture the scope of patient safety and prevention of harm.
Choice B rationale
Errors of execution are usually unintentional, not intentional. They often occur due to system failures rather than time or resource constraints.
Choice C rationale
It is estimated that as many as 90% of medication errors are preventable. This highlights the importance of safety measures and protocols in healthcare settings to prevent harm to patients.
Choice D rationale
Poorly coordinated care and nosocomial infections are examples of errors, but they represent only a fraction of the potential safety issues in healthcare.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
The initial assessment finding in a client diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism (PE) is typically dyspnea and anxiety. This is because a PE can block blood flow in the lungs, leading to difficulty breathing (dyspnea). The sudden onset of this symptom can cause significant anxiety in the patient.
Choice B rationale
An altered level of consciousness is not typically an initial finding in PE. While severe cases can lead to decreased oxygen levels in the blood, causing confusion or loss of consciousness, these are not usually initial symptoms.
Choice C rationale
Wheezing in lung bases is not a typical initial finding in PE. Wheezing is more commonly associated with conditions that cause narrowing of the airways, such as asthma or COPD12.
Choice D rationale
While an increased pulse and respiratory rate can occur in PE due to the body’s attempt to compensate for decreased oxygen in the blood, they are not the most specific initial findings. Dyspnea and anxiety are more characteristic initial symptoms of PE12.
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