After a practical nurse (PN) identifies an omission in the fall prevention protocol by unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP), what is the next appropriate action?

After a practical nurse (PN) identifies an omission in the fall prevention protocol by unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP), what is the next appropriate action?

• A. Reprimand the UAP for the mistake
• B. Supervise the UAP after reviewing the protocol
• C. Ignore the error as long as no incident occurred
• D. Document the error for further review

Answer: (B)

The next appropriate action after identifying an omission in the fall prevention protocol by unlicensed assistive personnel is to supervise the UAP after reviewing the protocol. This approach emphasizes the importance of ensuring that protocols are understood and followed correctly to maintain patient safety. By supervising the UAP, the practical nurse can provide guidance and support, reinforcing proper procedures and helping to prevent future errors. This action also allows for real-time correction and education, which can enhance the UAP's understanding of the fall prevention protocols and their application in clinical practice. The goal is to foster a culture of safety and accountability, where mistakes can be addressed constructively and lessons learned can be applied moving forward. In contrast, measures like reprimanding or ignoring the error would not effectively address the situation or promote improvement. Documentation is important for accountability and continuity of care but is not the immediate step that facilitates learning and adherence to safety protocols.

The next appropriate action after identifying an omission in the fall prevention protocol by unlicensed assistive personnel is to supervise the UAP after reviewing the protocol. This approach emphasizes the importance of ensuring that protocols are understood and followed correctly to maintain patient safety. By supervising the UAP, the practical nurse can provide guidance and support, reinforcing proper procedures and helping to prevent future errors.

This action also allows for real-time correction and education, which can enhance the UAP's understanding of the fall prevention protocols and their application in clinical practice. The goal is to foster a culture of safety and accountability, where mistakes can be addressed constructively and lessons learned can be applied moving forward.

In contrast, measures like reprimanding or ignoring the error would not effectively address the situation or promote improvement. Documentation is important for accountability and continuity of care but is not the immediate step that facilitates learning and adherence to safety protocols.