The quality and risk nurse in the local hospital is performing a hospital survey on sentinel events. Which of the following statements would the nurse use to best describe a sentinel event?
a. An event that can cause serious injury to a patient that should never happen in a hospital
b. Specific events that enable a hospital to maximize reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid
c. An unexpected event involving death or serious physical or psychological injury
d. An event in the operating room area involving the use of unsafe equipment
C
A sentinel event is an unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical or psychological injury. The Joint Commission requires all healthcare agencies to perform a root cause analysis for such events. "Never events" can, but do not always, cause serious injury or death to a patient; they are mostly preventable, and should never happen in a hospital. Medicare and Medicaid provide a list of never events such as foreign objects left in patients after surgery, air embolism, administration of the wrong blood type, and severe pressure ulcers. Medicare and Medicaid look very closely at never events and will no longer pay institutions for care required to treat the effects of such errors.
You might also like to view...
Which of the following best explains why the infection rate of HIV and tuberculosis (TB) is so high among persons who are incarcerated? (Select all that apply.)
a. Fecal oral transmission because of lack of cleanliness and hygiene among inmates b. Ignorance as to how infectious diseases are transmitted c. Engagement in tattooing, drug use, and unprotected sexual intercourse d. Lack of access to health care while incarcerated e. Overcrowding, poor ventilation, and constant change in the population f. Poor nutrition and lack of exercise while incarcerated
A client has been diagnosed with pheochromocytoma. Which clinical manifestation is most indicative of this condition?
1. Water loss 2. Bradycardia 3. Hypertension 4. Decreased cardiac output
You are caring for a postoperative heart transplant patient who is receiving azathioprine (Imuran). The patient asks you what this medication is for. What would your answer to this patient be?
A) Azathioprine decreases the risk of thrombus formation. B) Azathioprine ensures adequate cardiac output. C) Azathioprine increases the number of white blood cells. D) Azathioprine minimizes rejection.
A patient who has been experiencing the clinical manifestations associated with menopause voices an interest in using alternative and complementary therapies to manage them. What is the best initial response by the nurse?
1. "Alternative and complementary therapies seldom work.". 2. "Many women report success with those measures.". 3. "What types of therapies are of interest to you?" 4. "Have you discussed this with the health care provider?"