During a night shift on a medical-surgical unit, a practical nurse (PN) observes a registered nurse (RN) coworker exhibiting slurred speech, profound lethargy, and unsteady motor coordination while preparing a client's scheduled opioid analgesic. In what sequence must the PN execute the following actions to appropriately manage this legal and ethical situation? Arrange the steps from first (highest priority) to last (lowest priority).
- 1Intervene immediately to stop the coworker from administering the medication to the client.
- 2Report the objective observations of impairment directly to the charge nurse or nursing supervisor.
- 3Collaborate with the charge nurse to ensure the client receives the prescribed analgesic from an unimpaired nurse.
- 4Submit a factual, objective incident report detailing the observed behaviors using the facility's documentation system.
Answer
The correct sequence is: 1) Intervene to stop the medication administration, 2) Report to the nursing supervisor, 3) Ensure the client receives the medication safely, and 4) Document the incident.
The sequence follows the prioritization framework of immediate client safety, communication with management, continuity of client care, and finally, administrative documentation. The PN's duty to protect the public mandates stopping the impaired nurse first.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The primary legal and ethical obligation of the practical nurse when encountering an impaired colleague is to ensure immediate client safety, followed by mandatory reporting through the proper facility chain of command.