Clinical Nurse Leader Practice Exam

What should a Clinical Nurse Leader do after noticing an increased number of wound infection readmissions?

1. Perform a failure mode and effects analysis

2. Consult the wound-ostomy care nurses

3. Ask the medical doctors for their input on the infections

4. Perform a root cause analysis

The correct answer is: Ask the medical doctors for their input on the infections

The most effective action for a Clinical Nurse Leader in this scenario is to conduct a root cause analysis. This approach allows the nurse leader to systematically investigate the factors contributing to the increased number of wound infection readmissions. A root cause analysis strives to identify and understand the underlying reasons for the problem, going beyond surface-level causes to ensure that appropriate interventions can be developed and implemented. By analyzing data and gathering insights from a variety of sources, including patient histories, treatment processes, and outcomes, the Clinical Nurse Leader can pinpoint specific areas for improvement. This can lead to enhanced patient care practices, better educational initiatives for staff, and more effective patient discharge and follow-up processes, ultimately aiming to reduce the rates of wound infections and readmissions. Consulting wound-ostomy care nurses could also be important; however, without the comprehensive analysis that a root cause analysis provides, the interactions might not address the systemic issues that lead to increased infection rates. Similarly, while engaging with medical doctors can contribute to developing a more holistic view of the issue, it may not directly uncover the multifaceted factors leading to the rise in wound infections. Conducting a failure mode and effects analysis is a structured approach to evaluate potential failures in a process, but it typically follows after identifying specific issues