Question

The nurse is documenting an occurrence in which a client fell during a transfer and resulted in an intracerebral hemorrhage and death. Which type of practice error should the nurse document as having occurred?

A sentinel event

A near-miss event

A never-event

An unpreventable event

Answer 1

The nurse should document the occurrence as a sentinel event, which indicates a significant negative patient outcome that necessitates immediate investigation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should document the occurrence as a sentinel event. A sentinel event is a significant negative patient outcome, such as death or serious physical or psychological injury, that signals a need for immediate investigation and response. In contrast, a near-miss event is a situation in which an error could have resulted in an adverse outcome but did not, either by chance or through timely intervention. A never-event is a clear, preventable error that should never occur if proper safety protocols are followed. An unpreventable event is one where, despite all reasonable precautions, the adverse outcome could not have been foreseen or stopped.