A charge nurse is concerned about a recent increase in facility-acquired catheter infections.

Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Encourage collaboration between the two nurses when making the assignments. This is because collaboration is one of the most effective conflict-resolution strategies in nursing, as it involves finding a mutually beneficial solution that satisfies both parties and improves the quality of care. Collaboration can also foster trust, respect, and teamwork among nurses, which can boost morale and efficiency.

Choice B is wrong because telling the nurses that the assignments will be more equitable in the future does not address the root cause of the conflict or involve the nurses in the decision-making process.

It also implies that the charge nurse admits to being unfair, which can damage their credibility and authority.

Choice C is wrong because asking each nurse to take turns making the assignments does not resolve the conflict, but rather avoids it. Avoidance is one of the least effective conflict management strategies in nursing, as it results in not addressing the issue or finding a common ground.

Avoidance can also lead to resentment, frustration, and poor communication among nurses.

Choice D is wrong because arranging for the nurses to have as few shifts together as possible also does not resolve the conflict, but rather accommodates it. Accommodation is another ineffective conflict management strategy in nursing, as it involves giving in to one party’s demands or preferences at the expense of another’s.

Accommodation can also create a sense of inequality, injustice, and dissatisfaction among nurses.

Normal ranges for conflict-resolution strategies in nursing are not applicable, as different situations may require different approaches.

However, some general guidelines are to use collaboration when both parties have important goals or interests, compromise when both parties have some common ground or willingness to give up something, competition when one party has a clear advantage or authority, avoidance when the conflict is trivial or temporary, and accommodation when one party values harmony or relationships more than their own goals or interests.

The correct answer is choice D. The client is oriented times three.

This means that the client knows who they are, where they are, and what time it is. This indicates a high level of consciousness and a normal Glasgow coma scale (GCS) rating of 15.

Choice A is wrong because the client withdraws from pain.

This means that the client reacts to a painful stimulus by pulling away from it. This indicates a lower level of consciousness and a GCS rating of 4 for motor response.

Choice B is wrong because the client is unable to obey commands.

This means that the client does not follow simple instructions such as moving a limb or opening their eyes. This indicates a lower level of consciousness and a GCS rating of 1 or 2 for motor response.

Choice C is wrong because the client opens eyes to sound.

This means that the client does not open their eyes spontaneously, but only when they hear a loud noise. This indicates a lower level of consciousness and a GCS rating of 3 for eye opening.

The Glasgow coma scale is a clinical tool used to assess the level of consciousness of a person after a brain injury.

It consists of three tests: eye opening, verbal response, and motor response.

Each test has a score range from 1 to 6, with higher scores indicating higher levels of consciousness. The total score ranges from 3 to 15, with lower scores indicating higher risk of death.