Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse Practice Test 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Question: 1 / 400

Which action best describes a sentinel event alert?

Documenting the breakdown in communication during a shift report

Indicating that a community or institution is unsafe

Recording the harm done when a medication error occurs

Signaling the need for immediate investigation and response

A sentinel event alert is a notification that indicates a need for immediate investigation and response. This type of alert is triggered when a serious, unexpected event or outcome occurs in healthcare that requires a thorough analysis to identify the root causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Sentinel event alerts are crucial for promoting patient safety and quality care in healthcare settings by signaling the need for a detailed investigation and prompt response to prevent future occurrences.

Options A, B, and C do not fully capture the essence of a sentinel event alert as they do not specifically emphasize the need for immediate investigation and response to the event.

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