A nurse is in the hallway assisting a patient to ambulate and hears an alarm sound. What is the best next step for the nurse to take?
a. Seek out the source of the alarm.
b. Wait to see if the alarm discontinues.
c. Ask another nurse to check on the alarm.
d. Continue ambulating the patient.
C
The nurse who heard the alarm has a duty to address it even though she is busy with another patient. Ask someone to check on the alarm. The nurse cannot leave the patient in the hallway to look for the source of the alarm and cause a potentially unsafe situation for this patient, but a patient on the unit may have an urgent need. Someone needs to seek out the source of the alarm and address it. Never ignore an alarm. Alarms are in place to maximize the safety of the patient. Waiting to see if an alarm stops may cause a delay in a possible emergency situation.
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