Question

A nurse forgets to raise the bed railings of a client who is confused after taking pain medications. The client attempts to

get out of bed, and suffers a minor fall. The nurse asks a colleague who witnessed the fall not to mention it to anyone
because the client only had minor bruises. What would be the appropriate action of the colleague?
A) No other steps need to be taken, since the client was not seriously injured.
B) The colleague should inform the nurse that a full report of the incident needs to be made.
C) The colleague should monitor the client closely for any adverse effects of the fall.
D) The colleague should report the incident in a peer review of the nurse.

Answer 1

The colleague should inform the nurse that an incident report needs to be made, even if the injuries seem minor, to ensure patient safety and to help prevent future incidents.

Step-by-step explanation:

The appropriate action of the colleague would be to inform the nurse that a full report of the incident needs to be made. It is a professional and ethical obligation to ensure that incidents like these are reported and documented properly. This is not only for the safety and welfare of the current patient but also to prevent similar incidents in the future. Should the nurse resist or fail to make the report, the colleague has a duty to report the incident through the appropriate channels within the healthcare facility. It is crucial that such matters are not taken lightly, regardless of the severity of the patient’s injuries, as there could be delayed consequences of the fall that are not immediately apparent.