The nurse observes that another nurse on the unit who is caring for a client on a ventilator seems impaired and unable to perform care for the client

Question

The impaired nurse is caring for clients on the night shift and also functions as a charge nurse at times. The responsibility of the first nurse is to: 1. Confront the nurse caring for the client.
2. Call the nurse manager of the unit.
3. Notify security.
4. Discuss the situation with the charge nurse.

Answer 1

4. Discuss the situation with the charge nurse.

Rationale:
Discussing the situation with the nurse in charge is the appropriate decision. This decision may present a problem because the impaired nurse is a peer of the charge nurse. However, the staff nurse would still follow the chain of command, allowing the charge nurse to make the appropriate decision about the next move. Confronting the impaired nurse would not be appropriate as the staff nurse has no authority over the impaired nurse. The nurse manager will need to be notified, but this is the responsibility of the charge nurse. Security may need to be notified eventually, but that decision would be made by the nurse manager who would delegate that authority to the charge nurse.