A spouse slips and falls on a recently washed floor in the hallway; to meet ethical practice, what action should the nurse who witnessed the incident take?

• A. Write a brief description of the incident to be kept by the nurse manager
• B. Initiate an agency incident report
• C. Taking no action
• D. Document the incident in a personal notebook

Answer: (B)

Reporting the incident through the agency’s formal incident reporting system is essential for patient safety and quality improvement. When an environmental hazard like a recently washed floor leads to a fall, documenting it promptly ensures there is an objective record that can trigger investigation, identify contributing factors, and prompt corrective actions to prevent recurrence. This reporting is for the organization’s safety and risk management and is separate from the patient’s chart, with details kept confidential and used to improve safety systems.

Choosing to write only a brief description for a manager or to keep notes in a personal notebook does not activate the formal safety process and can lead to incomplete or inaccessible documentation. Not taking any action misses a critical opportunity to address hazards and protect both patients and staff.