CELBAN Writing Incident Reports 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient falls while ambulating to the bathroom at 2:14 AM. Which detail is MOST critical to include in the incident report?
- The patient's mood earlier that evening
- The exact time, location, and immediate patient condition after the fall (Correct answer)
- The nurse's personal opinion about staffing levels
- A prediction of long-term outcomes
Correct answer: The exact time, location, and immediate patient condition after the fall
Incident reports must document factual details including exact time, location, and immediate assessment findings.
Question 2: Which sentence best demonstrates objective language in an incident report?
- The patient was acting strangely and seemed confused.
- Patient was found on the floor beside the bed at 03:00; Glasgow Coma Scale score was 15. (Correct answer)
- The patient probably tripped on something.
- Staff member carelessly left the bed rail down.
Correct answer: Patient was found on the floor beside the bed at 03:00; Glasgow Coma Scale score was 15.
Objective language uses measurable, observable facts rather than interpretations or assumptions.
Question 3: When documenting a medication error in an incident report, which element is LEAST appropriate to include?
- The name and dose of the medication administered
- The prescribing physician's name
- A personal apology to the patient (Correct answer)
- The time the error was discovered
Correct answer: A personal apology to the patient
Incident reports are factual documents; personal apologies are inappropriate and can be used as admissions of liability.
Question 4: A nurse witnesses a colleague make a medication error but does not report it. What is the primary professional concern?
- The nurse may miss a break
- The nurse breaches the duty to protect patient safety and violates reporting obligations (Correct answer)
- The nurse will receive a negative performance review
- The nurse may be asked to cover extra shifts
Correct answer: The nurse breaches the duty to protect patient safety and violates reporting obligations
Nurses have a professional and ethical obligation to report incidents that affect patient safety.
Question 5: Which phrase is an example of 'weasel wording' that should be avoided in incident reports?
- Patient's blood pressure was 90/60 mmHg at 14:00.
- It appears the IV line may have possibly been disconnected. (Correct answer)
- Physician Dr. Nguyen was notified at 15:30.
- Patient stated, 'I feel dizzy.'
Correct answer: It appears the IV line may have possibly been disconnected.
Phrases like 'appears to' and 'may have possibly' introduce vague uncertainty that weakens the factual integrity of a report.
Question 6: An incident report for a patient elopement should be submitted:
- Within one week after a full investigation is complete
- As soon as possible, ideally within the same shift the event occurred (Correct answer)
- Only if the patient is found and returned safely
- After the family has been notified and consents to the report
Correct answer: As soon as possible, ideally within the same shift the event occurred
Incident reports must be filed promptly, typically within the same shift, to ensure accuracy and timely intervention.
Question 7: In an incident report, the phrase 'Patient appeared to be in pain' should be replaced with:
- Patient was definitely suffering.
- Patient looked very uncomfortable and distressed.
- Patient verbalized pain as 8/10 on the numeric scale and was grimacing. (Correct answer)
- Patient seemed painful based on nurse assessment.
Correct answer: Patient verbalized pain as 8/10 on the numeric scale and was grimacing.
Replacing subjective impressions with measurable, observable data strengthens the objectivity of incident documentation.
CELBAN Writing Incident Reports 2
A patient falls while ambulating to the bathroom at 2:14 AM.
Which detail is MOST critical to include in the incident report?