Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) Practice Exam

When a nurse self-reports a medication error involving a barcode scan issue, what type of analysis is represented?

1. Failure mode and effects analysis

2. Root cause analysis

3. Event report analysis

4. Process analysis

The correct answer is: Root cause analysis

In the context of patient safety and medication errors, when a nurse self-reports a medication error associated with a barcode scan issue, this reflects a root cause analysis. Root cause analysis is a systematic process for identifying the fundamental factors that lead to errors. It seeks to determine what happened, why it happened, and how to prevent it from happening again in the future. The act of self-reporting signifies a recognition of an error and an intent to understand the underlying reasons for it. This analysis typically goes beyond the immediate issue at hand (the medication error) to investigate systemic problems, such as inadequacies in the scanning process or issues with the barcode system itself. By focusing on root causes, healthcare organizations can implement corrective actions that address these deeper issues rather than simply addressing the symptoms of the error. Through such analyses, organizations can enhance safety protocols and refine processes, thereby reducing the likelihood of similar errors occurring in the future. This aligns with a culture of safety, where healthcare workers are encouraged to report errors and near misses to facilitate learning and improvement.