A licensed practical/vocational nurse was working on a busy medical–surgical nursing unit and saw a charge nurse violate principles of sterile technique
The licensed practical/vocational nurse approached the charge nurse privately about the matter, and the charge nurse stated that he was in charge, and he would perform the procedure the way he wanted. What action should the licensed practical/vocational nurse take?
A) Do nothing because the charge nurse is his supervisor, and if he says anything, he may be assigned a heavy client load
B) Follow the chain of command in the organization and contact the next person over the charge nurse about the matter
C) Tell the registered nurse (RN) on his team and get help on what to do in this situation because he can trust the RN
D) Tell the physician caring for the client so she can do something about the situation before her client ends up with a hospital-acquired infection
Ans: B
Feedback:
An organizational chart is a graphical portrayal of individuals' areas of responsibility and the relationships of accountability that exist between the individuals. It is best to always follow the chain of command in situations warranting action required by the administration of the institution. The licensed practical/vocational nurse appropriately began by having a crucial conversation with the charge nurse about the situation witnessed. Since the charge nurse was not going to take ownership for the care he delivered, the licensed practical/vocational nurse should go to the person in charge over that individual to discuss what was witnessed and what the charge nurse had stated. Doing nothing potentiates harm for clients and creates a bullying situation at work. Telling the RN or the physician avoids taking personal action as a client advocate to remedy the situation that is potentially harmful to the client.
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