What should be included in an incident report?

• A. Objective description of the event, time, people involved, and actions taken.
• B. Personal opinions about staff.
• C. Confidential gossip.
• D. Forward-looking predictions about outcomes.

Answer: (A)

Accurate incident reporting rests on factual, objective documentation of what happened, when it occurred, who was involved, and what actions were taken. This creates a clear, chronological record that supports patient safety, continuity of care, and any follow-up or investigations. The best choice describes including an objective description of the event, the time, the people involved, and the actions taken, without inserting opinion or speculation. Personal opinions about staff, confidential gossip, and forward-looking predictions do not belong in an incident report because they can bias the record, violate confidentiality, and mislead on outcomes. The report should stick to observable facts, noting details like date and time, location, patient status, witnesses, immediate responses, who was notified, and any subsequent steps taken.