A practical nurse (PN) is working the night shift on a medical-surgical unit. The PN observes the charge nurse (a registered nurse) stumbling, slurring words, and smelling faintly of alcohol. The registered nurse is preparing to administer an intravenous (IV) push medication to a client. In what order should the PN perform the following actions? (Arrange from first action to last).
- 1Intervene immediately to stop the registered nurse from administering the medication.
- 2Remove the registered nurse from the client care area to a private location.
- 3Notify the nursing supervisor on duty about the objective observations.
- 4Collaborate with the nursing supervisor to ensure continuous care is arranged for the clients.
- 5Submit an objective incident report detailing the registered nurse's behavior.
Answer
The correct sequence is to first intervene to stop the medication administration, remove the nurse from the area, notify the supervisor, collaborate on reassigning client care, and finally complete an incident report.
When encountering an impaired colleague, the correct sequence prioritizes immediate client safety (stopping the medication administration and removing the impaired nurse), followed by initiating the chain of command (notifying the supervisor). Because the PN cannot independently reassign the RN's clients, they must collaborate with the supervisor to ensure continuity of care. Finally, an objective incident report is completed to document the event for administrative and legal purposes.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Prioritization in impaired practice reporting: Immediate client safety first, followed by chain of command notification, continuity of care, and documentation.
Estimated Time:2m 0s