How to write an incident report that is submitted to the nurse in charge? What components should be included?
Please take the following scenario as an example to formulate an incident report.
David, a 4-month-old boy, was admitted to the Pediatric ward of the Children's hospital 3 days ago because of diarrhea and stayed in Bed 2. You were the primary nurse for David and worked the afternoon shift today.
David's health condition has improved and he is ready to be discharged home today, i.e. 10 December 2019. You have informed David's mother on the phone and she replied that she could come to pick David up after office hours.
After the shift handover at 2:45 pm, you conducted patient rounds and noticed that David was not in his cot. His identity bracelet with a security alarm tag was found on his bedside locker. Lucy's mother, the patient next to David, told you that she saw a tall lady in a yellow dress leave the cubicle with David and his belongings 20 minutes ago.
You have taken the following actions:
Time: 2:48 pm
Action: Inform the ward in-charge.
Time: 2:50 pm
Action: Perform a local search in the ward area.
Time: 2:55 pm
Action: Contact hospital security staff for a hospital search in parallel with David and the lady's description.
Time: 3:00 pm
Action: Inform on-call MO Dr. Chan TY and David's mother that David cannot be found.
Time: 3:10 pm
Action: Receive a call from David's mother stating that, upon her request for help, her elder sister had already brought David home without informing the ward staff. David, who appeared cheerful, was brought back to the ward by his aunt at 3:30 pm. On-call MO Dr. Chan TY examined him with no abnormality detected, and the police were informed. David was discharged home with his mother at 4 pm.