A nurse is a member of a quality-improvement committee seeking to reduce the risk of adverse events in a health care facility. When reviewing recently submitted incident reports, which of the following incidents should the nurse identify as a sentinel event?
Surgery to the wrong site was stopped prior to a procedure.
Paralysis of a client's lower extremities occurred following epidural anesthesia.
A client fall during ambulation did not result in client injury.
A complaint that a nurse was culturally insensitive was made by a client's family member.
The Correct Answer is B
A. Surgery to the wrong site was stopped prior to a procedure: This incident was prevented before harm occurred and is not considered a sentinel event since no actual harm was inflicted.
B. Paralysis of a client's lower extremities occurred following epidural anesthesia: This represents a significant adverse outcome that has resulted in severe harm and is considered a sentinel event, which requires thorough investigation and response.
C. A client fall during ambulation did not result in client injury: Although falls are a concern, the lack of injury means this incident may not be classified as a sentinel event.
D. A complaint that a nurse was culturally insensitive was made by a client's family member: While important for addressing care quality and communication, this complaint does not typically constitute a sentinel event as it does not directly involve significant harm or risk.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Deter mistakes by emphasizing the consequences of committing a medication error: While emphasizing consequences can be important, it does not address the root causes or systemic issues that may be contributing to the errors.
B. Include the bedside nurses in the decision-making process involving their practice: Engaging bedside nurses in decision-making helps address issues directly affecting their work environment and practice, fostering a culture of safety and collaboration that can reduce errors.
C. Encourage nurses who commit medication errors to file incident reports, placing them in the patient's chart: While reporting errors is important for documentation, placing them in the patient's chart may not be the best practice for addressing systemic issues or improving procedures.
D. Relinquish responsibility by asking a separate department to oversee quality improvement: Quality improvement should be a collaborative effort, not delegated entirely to another department, to ensure that changes are relevant and effective.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Review the events leading up to each medication administration error: Analyzing the events that led to medication errors helps identify root causes and contributing factors, which is crucial for developing targeted interventions and improving practices.
B. Require staff nurses to demonstrate competency by passing a medication administration examination: While competency is important, it should be based on insights gained from reviewing errors and understanding specific areas needing improvement.
C. Develop a quality improvement program for nurses involved in medication administration errors: This is a valuable step but should come after understanding the underlying causes of the errors through a review process.
D. Provide an inservice on medication administration to all the nurses: Training is important, but it should be informed by the findings from the error review to address specific issues and improve practices effectively.
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