The charge nurse observes that a fellow charge nurse on the unit ...

[savannahhooper]

The charge nurse observes that a fellow charge nurse on the unit who seems impaired and unable to perform client care. Which action by the charge nurse is the most appropriate in this situation?
 
  A) Notify security.
  B) Call the nurse manager of the unit.
  C) Discuss the situation with the nursing supervisor.
  D) Confront the nurse directly.

Question 2

A novice nurse has just completed orientation in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). The nurse is striving to attain the required skill level to care for children returning from open-heart surgery. The mentor want to assist the novice nurse in reach
 
  Which assignment would allow this to occur?
  A) A pediatric client who is recovering from open heart surgery and requires discharge teaching. B) A critically ill pediatric client who is recovering from a major abdominal surgery.
  C) A pediatric client who is recovering from heart surgery on the step down unit.
  D) A pediatric client who requires emergency resuscitations.

[frogdreck123456]

Answer to Question 1

Answer: C

Discussing the situation with the nursing supervisor is the appropriate decision. Because the charge nurse has witnessed the behavior it is important to follow the appropriate chain of command, allowing the nursing supervisor to make the appropriate decision about the next move. Confronting the impaired nurse would not be appropriate given that the nurse seems impaired. The nurse manager will need to be notified, but the charge nurse must notify the nursing supervisor in terms of how to proceed. Security may need to be notified eventually, but that decision would be made by the nursing supervisor, who would delegate that authority to the charge nurse.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: C

While setting goals for the second phase of mentoring, the mentor might suggest that the graduate nurse care for those children who have recovered from surgery but have not yet met the criteria for discharge. This would enable the nurse to learn about the surgeries, goals, and treatments for this group of clients. Having the graduate nurse care for critically ill children would put the clients at risk as the new nurse has neither the knowledge nor skills to care for this category of client need. The new nurse would not be entrusted with performing postoperative teaching for the critically ill child until more knowledge has been gained. Certainly, the graduate should observe emergency resuscitation with the goal of eventually taking more responsibility, but this would not best facilitate the goal of caring for children immediately after open-heart surgery.