A unit has a continuous problem with a certain complication in a specific patient population

Question

One nurse has read extensively about this issue and thinks the problem lies mainly in the unit's failure to follow one or two particular best practices because they use a standardized order set preferred by their physician group. Using the disposition of critical thinking known as analyticity, the best action for this nurse to take is to a. get support from other staff nurses and collectively stop implementing specific orders.
b. go directly to the physician group's weekly meeting, asking them to change the orders.
c. show evidence to unit management and ask for help in speaking with the physicians.
d. take the issue to the hospital's policy and procedures committee, asking for a review.

Answer 1

C
When using the characteristic of analyticity, the nurse uses reasoning and evidence to solve problems but also is able to anticipate difficulties. In this case, getting the manager "on board" is a great first step. By anticipating possible resistance from the physicians, the nurse gets assistance in the best way to approach them so that his or her message is most likely to be heard.
To collectively stop implementing specific orders would tend to alienate the physicians and is not a good example of professional communication or collaboration.
Going directly to the physician group's meeting and asking them to change the orders might work, but more likely, it would have the effect of alienating the physicians. If that occurred, the end result would not be beneficial to patients.
A policy and procedures committee is a valuable resource in hospitals (and in other settings as well), but going directly to them without speaking to the physicians first might well antagonize them.