Patient safety

How to report a critical result

Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.

MD / DOPANursing (NCLEX)
Practice it in VR with Blocky

Critical results show a risk of serious harm, such as a very low potassium. The Joint Commission requires them to reach the right clinician quickly.

Step by step

  1. Recognize the result

    Know your facility's list of critical values and expected timelines. [1]

  2. Check the patient

    Assess the patient right away. Start any emergency care needed. [2]

  3. Call the responsible provider

    Report within your facility's time limit to the clinician who can act. [1]

  4. Use SBAR

    Give the patient, the result, recent vital signs and what you need. [3]

  5. Read back

    When you receive the result by phone, write it down and read it back to confirm. [1]

  6. Escalate if needed

    If you cannot reach the provider in time, follow the chain of command. [1]

  7. Document the care

    Record the value, time, who you told and the orders received. [2]

Common errors

Practice it in VMS

In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.

VMS cases that train this skill

Sources

  1. The Joint Commission, National Patient Safety Goals
  2. Open RN, Nursing Fundamentals 2e (CC BY 4.0)
  3. AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs)

Facts and steps follow The Joint Commission, National Patient Safety Goals. VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.