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 B

Explanation

Choice A rationale

While documentation can be reviewed by providers, its primary purpose is not to monitor nurses' performance. Monitoring occurs through various quality assurance processes, and documentation serves a broader range of functions beyond individual nurse oversight.

Choice B rationale

Documentation acts as a central communication hub for all members of the healthcare team, including physicians, nurses, therapists, and other specialists. It ensures continuity of care by providing a shared understanding of the client's condition, treatments, and responses, facilitating informed decision-making and collaboration.

Choice C rationale

Although documentation can be used for audits, such as financial or quality audits, this is not its primary purpose. The main goal of documentation is to provide a comprehensive record of patient care for effective communication and continuity.

Choice D rationale

While accurate documentation supports billing and reimbursement processes from various payers, including government entities, this is a secondary outcome. The primary aim of documentation is to ensure high-quality patient care through clear and comprehensive information sharing.

A. Producing clinical pathways. B. Managing knowledge. C. Preventing burnout. D. Providing a safe place to administer care.

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A rationale

Producing clinical pathways is an application of informatics, where data and technology are used to standardize care processes for specific conditions. However, this is a specific outcome of informatics rather than the overarching definition of the field itself. Informatics encompasses a broader scope than just the creation of these pathways.

Choice B rationale

Informatics in healthcare is fundamentally about managing knowledge. This involves the acquisition, storage, retrieval, analysis, and dissemination of information to improve decision-making, enhance patient care, and advance healthcare practice. Technology serves as the tool to facilitate this knowledge management.

Choice C rationale

While effective use of informatics tools might indirectly contribute to a more efficient workflow and potentially reduce some stressors, preventing burnout is not the primary definition of informatics. Burnout is a complex issue influenced by various factors beyond information and technology.

Choice D rationale

Providing a safe place to administer care is a fundamental goal of the entire healthcare system, encompassing many aspects beyond informatics. While informatics can contribute to safety through improved communication and access to information, it is not the defining purpose of the field itself.

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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

A nurse is preparing to document a client's information in the electronic medical record.Which of the following nursing statements identifies the purpose of documentation?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A nurse is discussing informatics with a newly licensed nurse.The nurse identifies that informatics is defined as the use of information and technology for which of the following?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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