Final answer:
Incident reports in healthcare settings must be completed for events such as conflicts between providers and nursing staff, as well as missed specimen collections for laboratory tests, both of which impact patient care and safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
When teaching a newly licensed nurse about incidents that require an incident report, it's essential to identify events that challenge patient safety and healthcare facility operations. Two examples of situations that must prompt the completion of an incident report include:
- Conflict with provider and nursing staff: Interpersonal conflicts that affect patient care or the functioning of the healthcare team should be reported. This includes disputes or disagreements that have the potential to compromise patient safety or disrupt the collaborative working environment necessary in healthcare settings.
- Missed specimen collection of a prescribed laboratory test: Failure to collect a specimen for a laboratory test as prescribed can result in a delay in diagnosis or treatment and is considered a deviation from the standard of care. This incident must be documented to address and rectify the cause and prevent future occurrences.
Incident reports serve as a tool for quality improvement, providing a way to track and analyze errors and near misses to enhance patient safety and care standards.