Which scenario best exemplifies a near-miss event?

Which scenario best exemplifies a near-miss event?

• A. A minor delay
• B. A patient actually receives the wrong dosage
• C. A patient nearly receives the wrong medication but mistake caught before administration
• D. An injury due to weather

Answer: (C)

Near-miss events in patient safety involve a potential error that could have caused harm but is prevented before reaching the patient. The scenario where a patient nearly receives the wrong medication but the mistake is caught before administration fits this exactly: the risk is real (wrong med) but safeguards stop it from causing harm, so no patient harm occurs while highlighting a vulnerability in the system that can be improved. The other scenarios don’t fit as near-misses because a minor delay isn’t an error that could harm, an actual wrong dosage has already caused or could cause harm, and weather-related injury isn’t related to a medication safety error. This type of event is valuable for learning and strengthening checks to prevent future harm.

Near-miss events in patient safety involve a potential error that could have caused harm but is prevented before reaching the patient. The scenario where a patient nearly receives the wrong medication but the mistake is caught before administration fits this exactly: the risk is real (wrong med) but safeguards stop it from causing harm, so no patient harm occurs while highlighting a vulnerability in the system that can be improved.

The other scenarios don’t fit as near-misses because a minor delay isn’t an error that could harm, an actual wrong dosage has already caused or could cause harm, and weather-related injury isn’t related to a medication safety error. This type of event is valuable for learning and strengthening checks to prevent future harm.