A nurse completes an incident/occurrence report after a patient falls.
What is the reason for this report?

To prevent the patient from filing a malpractice lawsuit.

To aid in the hospital's quality improvement program.

To compare patient fall rates between nursing units in the hospital.

To provide justification for the hospital to fire the nurse.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Choice A rationale

An incident report primarily focuses on documenting the facts of an event, not on preventing lawsuits. While a thorough report might indirectly help in legal defense by providing a clear record, its main purpose isn't legal protection. Legal strategies are separate from the incident reporting process.

Choice B rationale

Incident reports are crucial for a healthcare facility's quality improvement initiatives. By systematically documenting occurrences like patient falls, the hospital can analyze trends, identify potential risks and contributing factors, and implement strategies to prevent similar incidents in the future, thereby enhancing patient safety and care quality.

Choice C rationale

While incident reports from various units might be reviewed and compared as part of a broader quality improvement effort, the primary reason for completing an individual incident report is not solely for comparing fall rates between units. The immediate goal is to document the specific incident and identify local contributing factors.

Choice D rationale

Incident reports are designed to document events objectively. They are not primarily used as a basis for disciplinary action against a nurse. Disciplinary processes would involve a separate investigation to determine if negligence or policy violations occurred, based on various sources of information, not just the incident report.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A rationale

Assessing the patient's respiratory status with auscultation of lung sounds and pulse oximetry provides immediate and critical information about the severity of the shortness of breath and the patient's oxygenation. This data is essential for guiding immediate interventions and further assessment. Normal pulse oximetry is typically 95-100%.

Choice B rationale

Telling the patient the physician will be in shortly does not address the immediate distress of acute shortness of breath and delays necessary assessment and intervention. It offers false reassurance without taking any immediate action.

Choice C rationale

While ensuring patient privacy is important, it is not the priority action in a situation of acute shortness of breath. Addressing the immediate physiological compromise takes precedence over privacy concerns at the initial moment of assessment.

Choice D rationale

Reassuring the patient that the shortness of breath will be relieved shortly, without any assessment or intervention, is inappropriate and potentially dangerous. It does not address the underlying cause and may delay necessary treatment.

A. It is permissible because the sibling has paid for the service. B. It is permissible because the client's sibling made the request. C. It is not permissible because the provider should disclose laboratory results or findings to a client. D. It is not permissible because there is no nurse-client relationship between the sibling and nurse.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A rationale

While the sibling may have paid for the diagnostic test, this does not grant the nurse the right to access and disclose the results. Patient privacy and confidentiality are paramount, and access to medical records is restricted to those directly involved in the patient's care. Payment for services does not override these privacy regulations.

Choice B rationale

The familial relationship between the nurse and the patient's sibling does not authorize the nurse to access the patient's medical information. Professional boundaries and ethical guidelines prevent healthcare providers from accessing records of family members unless they are directly involved in their care and have a legitimate need-to-know.

Choice C rationale

It is indeed the responsibility of the healthcare provider who ordered the tests or is managing the patient's care to disclose laboratory results and findings directly to the client. This ensures accurate interpretation and appropriate follow-up. Nurses should not bypass this process by independently accessing and sharing results with family members.

Choice D rationale

A nurse-client relationship did not exist between the nurse and the sibling in this scenario. Accessing a patient's medical record requires a legitimate professional need related to the provision of care to that specific patient. Without this established relationship, accessing the sibling's results would be a breach of confidentiality and professional ethics.

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A nurse completes an incident/occurrence report after a patient falls.What is the reason for this report?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse is caring for a patient who came to the hospital with acute shortness of breath.What is the priority action of the nurse as the assessment process is started?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A nurse's sibling had a diagnostic test at the nurse's facility.The sibling asks the nurse to look up the result in the computer.The nurse should identify which of the following as the reason for her decision about her sibling's request?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

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A nurse completes an incident/occurrence report after a patient falls.
What is the reason for this report?