What are the best ways to identify and report adverse events in nursing?

2 Report promptly

The second step is to report the adverse event as soon as possible, following the policies and procedures of your organization. You need to document the incident accurately and thoroughly, including the date, time, location, description, severity, contributing factors, actions taken, and outcomes. You also need to communicate the incident to the appropriate staff, such as your supervisor, the physician, the risk manager, or the quality improvement team. You may also need to inform the patient and their family, depending on the situation and the legal requirements.

3 Learn from the experience

The third step is to learn from the adverse event and use it as an opportunity to improve your practice and prevent recurrence. You need to participate in the analysis and investigation of the incident, which may involve root cause analysis, failure mode and effects analysis, or other methods. You also need to provide feedback and suggestions for improvement, such as changes in policies, protocols, education, or equipment. You also need to reflect on your own performance and identify any areas that you need to improve or seek further training or support.

4 Foster a culture of safety

The fourth step is to foster a culture of safety in your workplace, where adverse events are reported and discussed openly and without blame or fear. You need to support your colleagues who are involved in adverse events and offer them emotional and professional assistance. You also need to encourage your peers to report and learn from adverse events and share best practices and lessons learned. You also need to advocate for patient safety and quality improvement initiatives and participate in them actively.

5 Seek external resources

The fifth step is to seek external resources that can help you identify and report adverse events more effectively. You can consult various guidelines, standards, tools, and databases that are available from reputable sources, such as the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the World Health Organization, or the Joint Commission. You can also join professional associations, networks, or communities of practice that focus on patient safety and quality improvement and offer you access to education, research, or mentorship.

6 Update your knowledge and skills

The sixth step is to update your knowledge and skills regularly and keep up with the latest evidence and best practices in patient safety and quality improvement. You can attend workshops, webinars, conferences, or courses that cover topics such as adverse event identification, reporting, analysis, prevention, or management. You can also read journals, newsletters, blogs, or podcasts that feature case studies, tips, or insights from experts or peers. You can also seek feedback, coaching, or supervision from your mentors, supervisors, or peers to improve your competence and confidence.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?