Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics for Texas Nurses Practice Exam

A nurse is terminated and reported to the BON for committing repeated practice errors. As required in the NPA, the CNO also sends the case to the Incident Based Peer Review (IBPR) Committee because:

1. the IBPR Committee can decide to reverse the CNO's decision to terminate the nurse's employment

2. the IBPR Committee is required to review external factors surrounding the practice errors and to report to the facility's Patient Safety Committee as appropriate

3. the IBPR Committee may decide to re-orient and re-train the nurse even though she was fired

4. the nurse may convince the committee the errors were not her fault, and the committee can then withdraw the CNO's report to the BON

The correct answer is: the IBPR Committee can decide to reverse the CNO's decision to terminate the nurse's employment

The most accurate choice regarding the role of the Incident Based Peer Review (IBPR) Committee in this scenario is that the IBPR Committee is required to review external factors surrounding the practice errors and report to the facility's Patient Safety Committee as appropriate. The IBPR Committee serves a crucial function in assessing incidents related to practice errors. Their responsibility is not to reverse the termination decision made by the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) but rather to evaluate the circumstances surrounding the errors to improve safety and prevent future occurrences. This evaluation includes a thorough examination of systemic factors, staff performance, and adherence to protocols, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the root causes of the issues. Additionally, the findings from the IBPR can lead to recommendations for changes in practices or policies and contribute significantly to the overall safety culture of the healthcare facility. Reporting these findings to the Patient Safety Committee is vital as it ensures appropriate administrative actions can be taken based on comprehensive data regarding practice errors, thus enhancing patient safety and quality of care. The other options suggest the IBPR Committee has the authority to overturn management decisions or absolve the nurse of responsibility, which does not align with the committee's primary focus on safety evaluation and improvement.