Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) CBT Practice Test

The term 'adverse event' in healthcare is defined as any incident that results in harm to a patient during healthcare provision. This definition is crucial because it encompasses a wide range of potential occurrences that can impact patient safety and well-being. Adverse events may include medical errors, complications from treatment, infections acquired during a hospital stay, or any unintended injury that results from the care provided.

Understanding this term is critical for healthcare professionals as it helps to foster a culture of safety within healthcare settings. By recognizing what constitutes an adverse event, professionals can better identify areas for improvement, implement preventive measures, and enhance patient care quality. This definition stands in contrast to other options that either imply no harm to the patient or suggest that an event is insignificant, which does not align with the understanding of adverse events in the context of patient safety and clinical outcomes.