A patient has just been transferred to the acute medicine unit from the intensive care unit and the patient's arterial line has not yet been discontinued
The nurse on the acute medicine unit is a recent graduate and does not have experience in caring for an arterial line. As a result, the nurse is unsure how to safely address this aspect of the patient's care. How should the nurse best respond?
A) Look up arterial lines in the policy and procedures manual on the unit.
B) Inform the unit manager that this patient assignment is inappropriate.
C) Enlist the help of a more senior nurse on the unit.
D) Have the patient transferred back to the intensive care unit.
Ans: C
To provide safe care, the nurse must identify when a situation requires greater
expertise or knowledge and when assistance is needed. Asking a colleague for assistance is an
appropriate demonstration of this competency. Looking up a procedure in a policy manual is an
appropriate action but does not show a willingness to ask others for help. It would likely be
premature to refuse the care of this patient or to have him or her transferred.
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