Writing Incident Reports Flashcards
7 cards from real CELBAN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Writing Incident Reports flashcards as text
Which detail about witnesses should be included in an incident report?
Answer: Names and roles of any individuals who observed the incident
Recording witness names and roles provides accountability and allows follow-up during investigation.
A nurse accidentally gives a patient the wrong blood type during a transfusion. After stopping the transfusion and treating the patient, what MUST the nurse document in the incident report regarding the blood product?
Answer: The blood product type given, the correct type ordered, the lot number, and the time administered
Specific product details including type, lot number, and administration time are critical for tracking and preventing transfusion errors.
Why should a nurse avoid using abbreviations in an incident report?
Answer: Abbreviations can be misinterpreted and reduce clarity for reviewers unfamiliar with the terms.
Abbreviations can be ambiguous and cause confusion for risk managers, legal teams, or reviewers from other departments.
A patient sustains a needle-stick injury while self-administering insulin. The incident report should include:
Answer: The circumstances of the injury, the needle type, immediate first aid provided, and follow-up actions
Complete documentation of circumstances, equipment involved, and follow-up is essential for proper incident investigation and patient safety tracking.
Which best describes how corrective actions should appear in an incident report?
Answer: They should describe specific, factual steps already taken to address immediate safety concerns.
Incident reports should document concrete actions already taken, not speculations or criticisms, to reflect accountability.
After completing an incident report, a supervisor asks a nurse to remove a detail that reflects poorly on the unit. The nurse should:
Answer: Refuse to alter factual information, as falsifying a report is unethical and potentially illegal
Altering incident reports to conceal facts is a serious breach of professional ethics and may constitute falsification of records.
A nurse documents in the incident report: 'The bed alarm was not functioning properly, which caused the patient fall.' This statement is problematic because:
Answer: It draws a causal conclusion before an investigation has confirmed the cause.
Incident reports should describe facts observed, not assign causation, which is determined through formal investigation.