Legal and Regulatory (Social Media)

Question 1

When to file an incident report

Answer 1

whenever an unexpected event occurs, any time a patient makes a complaint, med errors, medical device malfunction, whenever any patient, staff member or visitor is injured or involved in a situation

Question 2

When can you lose your license?

Answer 2

If you fail to make a mandatory report such as writing an incident report

Question 3

Incident reports

Answer 3

Not part of the medical record but
an administrative document.
Should never be part of a chart
or referred to in your notes “that an
incident report was filed.”
Do not make copies of the incident
report (can be discovered).

Question 4

When do you file an IR?

Answer 4

While the facts are fresh

Question 5

What do you write in an IR?

Answer 5

objective, factual information
what you saw, diagnostic tests
completed, what the results showed,
treatments, what you heard, what was said
in the room “in quotes”- address and list all
witnesses in the room.- all parties involved must document an IR

Question 6

Can IRs be used in a lawsuit?

Answer 6

In some states Incident Reports are
considered confidential and cannot be used in
a lawsuit.
However, the courts are becoming more
lenient in allowing incident reports to be
“discovered” or brought to court.”
If a chart reflects that an incident report was
completed, it could be subpoenaed by the
patient and used against the nurse.

Question 7

IR: Be aware

Answer 7

Do not offer a prognosis or draw conclusions, facts only, don’t offer opinions or finger point

Question 8

RaDonda Vaught

Answer 8

gave vecuronium instead of Versed, charged with reckless homicide. The case was covered up by the hospital and the case goes public in late 2018.

Question 9

Nurse reaction to RaDonda case

Answer 9

RaDonda was convicted of two felonies and faces 8 years in prison, nurses are concernes this case will provide a slippery slope and make nurses less forthcoming about mistakes