How to Write an Incident Report
Ausmed Editorial Team
7 months ago
Incident reporting is the responsibility of all team members. This article will
provide you with a clear overview of writing an effective incident report, what to
include and how to describe the situation objectively.
It is important to ensure that prompt reporting of an incident, as well as
appropriate corrective action, take place. Time lines for both will also be legally
imposed. You should therefore understand that the requirement of incident reporting
in your workplace should result in improvements in your practice environment.
Overview
Incident reports comprise two aspects. First, there is the actual reporting of any
particular incident (this may be something affecting you, your patient or other
staff members), and the relevant corrective action taken. Secondly, information
from incident reports is analysed to identify overall improvements in the workplace
or service.
You should be familiar with, and follow, incident reporting procedures in your
workplace. The following tips are provided to help this process.
What is Included in an Incident Report?
The name of the person(s) affected and the names of any witnesses to an incident
Where and when the incident occurred
The events surrounding the incident
Whether an injury occurred as a direct result of the incident
The response and corrective measures that were taken
It should be signed and dated prior to handing it in to the appropriate person,
such as a supervisor

What Situations Should be Reported?
Examples include:
Injuries – physical such as falls and needle sticks, or mental such as verbal abuse
Errors in patient care and medication errors
Patient complaints, any episodes of aggression
Faulty equipment or product failure (such as running out of oxygen)
Any incident in which patient or staff safety is compromised
You Should Keep the Following Points in Mind when Documenting an Incident:
Use objective language
Write what was witnessed and avoid assigning blame; write only what you witnessed
and do not make assumptions about what occurred
Have the affected person or witnesses tell you what happened and use direct
quotations
Ensure that the person who witnessed the event writes the report
Report in a timely manner
Complete your report as soon as the incident occurs, or as soon as is feasible
afterwards. Never try to cover up or hide a mistake! Nurses practice within a Code
of Conduct. Detailed discussion is essential, especially thorough communication in
aged care settings where residents remain in the nurse’s care for longer periods of
time.
By following these simple tips, you will help to keep your patients safe and will
also protect yourself.
