Free NMC-CBT Patient Safety and Risk Assessment Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A 78-year-old patient is admitted to the ward. When is the most appropriate time to complete a falls risk assessment?
- Within 24 hours of admission
- On admission and repeated regularly or after any change in condition (Correct answer)
- Only if the patient has a known history of falls
- During the first ward round by the medical team
Correct answer: On admission and repeated regularly or after any change in condition
A falls risk assessment should be completed on admission to establish a baseline and identify immediate risks. This assessment should then be repeated regularly, especially after a fall or a change in the patient's condition, to ensure ongoing safety.
Question 2: Which of the following is the most critical step for a nurse to take to prevent a medication administration error?
- Checking the expiry date of the medication
- Asking the patient if they have any allergies
- Positively identifying the patient using their wristband against the prescription (Correct answer)
- Documenting the administration immediately after giving the drug
Correct answer: Positively identifying the patient using their wristband against the prescription
While all checks are important, confirming the patient's identity using at least two identifiers (e.g., name and date of birth) against the medication chart is a fundamental step of the '5 Rights'. This ensures the right medication is given to the right patient.
Question 3: When using a validated tool such as the Waterlow score to assess a patient's risk of developing a pressure ulcer, which factor is considered most significant?
- Nutritional status
- Patient's age
- Continence level
- Mobility and activity level (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Mobility and activity level
Immobility and reduced mobility are the most significant risk factors for pressure ulcer development. Prolonged pressure on bony prominences restricts blood flow, leading to tissue damage.
Question 4: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), what is the single most effective action to reduce the transmission of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs)?
- Wearing gloves for all patient contact
- Isolating patients with known infections
- Performing effective hand hygiene at key moments (Correct answer)
- Regularly cleaning the clinical environment
Correct answer: Performing effective hand hygiene at key moments
Effective hand hygiene is consistently cited as the most important, simplest, and least expensive means of preventing the spread of HCAIs. It breaks the chain of infection by removing or destroying microorganisms on the hands.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of completing an incident report (e.g., using a Datix or IR1 form) after a patient safety event?
- To discipline the staff member involved in the incident
- To provide evidence for potential legal action
- To learn from the event and prevent recurrence (Correct answer)
- To inform the patient's family that an error has occurred
Correct answer: To learn from the event and prevent recurrence
The primary goal of incident reporting is not to assign blame but to learn from events, identify patterns or system failures, and implement changes to improve patient safety. This fosters a culture of safety and continuous improvement.
Question 6: In line with NICE guidelines, when must a patient be assessed for their risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE)?
- Within 72 hours of admission
- On admission to hospital (Correct answer)
- Only if they are scheduled for surgery
- Prior to discharge from the hospital
Correct answer: On admission to hospital
NICE guidelines mandate that all patients must have a VTE risk assessment performed on admission to hospital. This is crucial as hospitalisation is a major risk factor for developing blood clots, and early assessment allows for timely implementation of preventative measures.
Free NMC-CBT Patient Safety and Risk Assessment Questions and Answers 1
A 78-year-old patient is admitted to the ward.
When is the most appropriate time to complete a falls risk assessment?