A home health nurse is performing a safety assessment of a client's home. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as a safety hazard?

Choice A reason: Decreased cost-effectiveness is not an outcome of critical pathway use, but rather an outcome of poor quality care. Critical pathways are designed to improve the quality and efficiency of care by reducing unnecessary costs and resources.

Choice B reason: Decreased care delays is an outcome of critical pathway use, as it reflects the timely and coordinated delivery of care. Critical pathways are evidence-based plans that outline the expected course of care and outcomes for a specific client population.

Choice C reason: Increased length of stay is not an outcome of critical pathway use, but rather an outcome of ineffective or inappropriate care. Critical pathways are intended to shorten the length of stay by optimizing the care process and preventing complications.

Choice D reason: Increased variation in clinical interventions is not an outcome of critical pathway use, but rather an outcome of inconsistent or individualized care. Critical pathways are meant to standardize the clinical interventions based on the best available evidence and practice guidelines.

Choice A reason: This is not an appropriate action by the staff nurse. The incident report should not be sent to the ethics committee, as it is not a part of the client's record and does not involve ethical issues. The incident report should be sent to the risk management department, which is responsible for identifying and preventing potential hazards and liabilities in the health care setting.

Choice B reason: This is not an appropriate action by the staff nurse. The names of witnesses to the fall should not be listed in the nurses' notes, as they are not relevant to the client's care and may violate confidentiality. The names of witnesses should be included in the incident report, which is a confidential document that is not part of the client's record.

Choice C reason: This is an appropriate action by the staff nurse. The client's account of the fall should be included in the incident report, as it provides valuable information about the circumstances and causes of the fall. The incident report should also include the date, time, location, and description of the fall, the staff members involved, the interventions taken, and the client's condition and response.

Choice D reason: This is not an appropriate action by the staff nurse. The fact that an incident report was filed should not be documented in the client's record, as it may imply negligence or fault and may be used as evidence in a legal case. The incident report is a separate document that is used for quality improvement and risk management purposes.