Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics for Texas Nurses Practice Exam

A nursing error that contributes to the death or serious harm of a patient

1. can be considered a minor incident if the nurse is accountable for his or her practice and understands his or her error.

2. can be considered a minor incident if the patient had a do-not-resuscitate order.

3. cannot be considered a minor incident, even if the nurse appears to have the knowledge and skills to practice safely.

4. cannot be considered a minor incident unless the nurse has a previous pattern of similar nursing practice errors.

The correct answer is: can be considered a minor incident if the nurse is accountable for his or her practice and understands his or her error.

The correct choice reflects the understanding that a nursing error leading to death or serious harm cannot be trivialized as a minor incident, regardless of the nurse's accountability or understanding of their mistake. The severity of the outcome—a patient's death or serious harm—places the error clearly outside the bounds of what could be considered minor. In nursing practice, accountability and understanding are essential, but they do not mitigate the impact of the error. The nursing profession holds high standards for safety and patient care, and any error that results in significant harm or fatality must be treated with utmost seriousness. This is aligned with the principles of patient safety and ethical nursing practice, emphasizing that patient outcomes are paramount. Thus, even if the nurse recognizes the mistake, it does not lessen the gravity of the situation or the potential consequences of the error.