CPSA MCQ Flashcards

Which of the following best describes a 'near miss' in patient safety terminology?

Answer: An event that was caught before reaching the patient

A near miss is an event or situation that did not produce patient injury but only because of chance or timely intervention.

The 'Swiss Cheese Model' of accident causation was developed by which theorist?

Answer: James Reason

James Reason developed the Swiss Cheese Model, which illustrates how multiple system failures align to allow errors to cause harm.

Which accreditation body requires hospitals to conduct a root cause analysis (RCA) following a sentinel event?

Answer: The Joint Commission

The Joint Commission requires accredited organizations to perform an RCA and develop an action plan after any sentinel event.

A hospital's patient safety officer wants to prioritize risks using a proactive tool. Which method is MOST appropriate?

Answer: Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)

FMEA is a proactive, prospective tool used to identify potential failure modes in a process before harm occurs.

Which of the following is an example of a latent error in a healthcare system?

Answer: A poorly designed medication labeling system

Latent errors are systemic conditions, such as poor design or inadequate policies, that lie dormant until triggered by active errors.

Which communication technique is recommended for handoff situations to reduce information gaps?

Answer: I-PASS

I-PASS (Illness severity, Patient summary, Action list, Situation awareness, Synthesis by receiver) is specifically designed as a structured handoff communication tool.

In a just culture framework, a healthcare worker who makes a reckless choice resulting in patient harm would MOST likely face:

Answer: Disciplinary action

In a just culture, reckless behavior—where risk is knowingly and unjustifiably taken—warrants disciplinary action, unlike human error or at-risk behavior.