Question

Which is an example of a sentinel event?

a. The patient suffers a fatal air embolism after a central line is removed incorrectly.
b. The nurse identifies a patient's urinary tract infection before symptoms develop.
c. The unit's urinary tract infection rate is 5% lower than the national average.
d. The pilot study indicates potential effectiveness of a new oral care protocol.

Answer 1

A sentinel event is exemplified by a patient suffering a fatal air embolism due to the incorrect removal of a central line, highlighting the serious consequences of preventable medical errors.

Step-by-step explanation:

An example of a sentinel event is a situation where the patient suffers a negative outcome due to a preventable error. In this case, the scenario where the patient suffers a fatal air embolism after a central line is removed incorrectly showcases such an event. Sentinel events are serious adverse events that necessitate immediate investigation and response, because they are unexpected incidents involving death or serious physical or psychological injury. The other options given do not depict sentinel events; rather, they show effective infection control or potential research progress.