A nurse manager is concerned about work-related accidents; What is the first action the manager should take to address these problems?

A nurse manager is concerned about work-related accidents; What is the first action the manager should take to address these problems?

• A. Tour the unit to observe hazardous workplace habits or environments.
• B. Compile a list of all data on staff accidents for the past 2 years.
• C. Interview all staff on long-term disability to find out how they were injured.
• D. Interview all staff for their opinions and observations about workplace hazards.

Answer: (B)

Starting with compiling accident data provides an objective picture of the scope and patterns of work-related injuries. By listing all staff accidents over the past two years, the manager can see how many incidents occurred, what types of injuries happened, where and when they tended to occur, and who was affected. This baseline helps identify trends, high-risk units or tasks, and spike periods, so priorities can be set based on actual evidence rather than memory or perception. Once the data are known, the team can focus interventions where they’re most needed and measure whether safety improvements reduce incidents over time. Observing hazards during tours and asking staff for opinions are valuable follow-ups, but without a solid data foundation they risk addressing issues that aren’t widespread or missing underlying causes. Interviewing staff about long-term disability, in particular, targets a specific group and may not reflect general workplace hazards. So, gathering and reviewing past accident data first establishes the evidence base to guide effective safety actions.

Starting with compiling accident data provides an objective picture of the scope and patterns of work-related injuries. By listing all staff accidents over the past two years, the manager can see how many incidents occurred, what types of injuries happened, where and when they tended to occur, and who was affected. This baseline helps identify trends, high-risk units or tasks, and spike periods, so priorities can be set based on actual evidence rather than memory or perception.

Once the data are known, the team can focus interventions where they’re most needed and measure whether safety improvements reduce incidents over time. Observing hazards during tours and asking staff for opinions are valuable follow-ups, but without a solid data foundation they risk addressing issues that aren’t widespread or missing underlying causes. Interviewing staff about long-term disability, in particular, targets a specific group and may not reflect general workplace hazards.

So, gathering and reviewing past accident data first establishes the evidence base to guide effective safety actions.