While preparing a client for surgery, the nurse marks the arm ...

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While preparing a client for surgery, the nurse marks the arm that is to be amputated and participates in a time out procedure before the surgery begins. Which sentinel event should the time out procedure prevent?
 
  A) Ineffective control of the client's pain
  B) The lack of healing of the stump
  C) The client being mildly over-sedated
  D) The removal of the wrong arm

Question 2

The nurse provides medication to a client at the wrong time. No harm came to the client as a result of the nurse's error and the nurse files a report about the medication error. Which response by the risk management team is most appropriate?
 
  A) Discipline the nurse appropriately.
  B) Report the nurse to the board of nursing.
  C) Monitor all nurses on the unit to ensure this does not occur again.
  D) Attempt to implement policy changes to prevent future errors.

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Answer to Question 1

Answer: D

A sentinel event is an unexpected event that causes death or severe physical or psychological injury. The removal of the client's incorrect arm would be a sentinel event. Mild over-sedation is not a sentinel event as the client is most likely on a ventilator during surgery. The inability to heal properly is an expected event in a diabetic client. Pain control is individual and is not a sentinel event.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: D

When a nurse makes an error and reports it, the risk management team will investigate to discover causes for the error and effect policy changes that can prevent future errors, improving the level of client care. The situation does not warrant reporting the nurse to the board of nursing. The risk management team would not be responsible for implementing any disciplinary actions. It is not prudent for the risk management team to monitor all nurses who administer medications on the unit.