A charge nurse is planning to evacuate clients on the unit because there is a fire on another floor. Which of the following clients should the nurse evacuate first?

Choice A reason: Contacting the client's next of kin to obtain consent for treatment is not a correct action, as it may delay the necessary and urgent care for the client. The nurse should assume that the client would consent to life-saving treatment and act in the client's best interest.

Choice B reason: Proceeding with treatment without obtaining written consent is the correct action, as it is justified by the emergency doctrine. The nurse should provide immediate and appropriate care for the client who is unable to give consent due to their condition.

Choice C reason: Having the client sign a consent for treatment is not a correct action, as the client is disoriented and cannot give informed consent. The nurse should not ask the client to sign any documents that they may not understand or remember.

Choice D reason: Notifying risk management before initiating treatment is not a correct action, as it is not a priority in an emergency situation. The nurse should focus on the client's needs and safety and document the care provided and the rationale for the actions taken.

The correct answer is: d.

Choice A reason: An allergy to penicillin requiring an alternative antibiotic to be prescribed is a common and expected variation in care. Allergies are patient-specific factors that must be accommodated within the care pathway. The need for an alternative antibiotic does not typically constitute a variance that requires reporting, as adjustments for allergies are part of personalized care planning.

Choice B reason: Initiating antibiotic therapy 2 hours after implementation of the care pathway may not require a variance report if it falls within the acceptable time frame for antibiotic administration. The timing of antibiotic therapy can be critical, but slight deviations are often accounted for within the care pathway guidelines. However, if the care pathway specifies a narrower time frame for initiation, then this could be a reportable variance.

Choice C reason: Changing the route of antibiotic therapy from IV to PO (oral) is a clinical decision that may be based on the patient's condition, progress, and ability to tolerate oral medications. This switch is a part of antimicrobial stewardship and is often encouraged when clinically appropriate to reduce IV line use and potential complications. It is a standard practice and does not typically require a variance report unless the change contradicts a specific protocol in the care pathway.

Choice D reason: Obtaining a blood culture after the initiation of antibiotic therapy is a significant variance from the standard care pathway. Blood cultures should be obtained before starting antibiotics to accurately identify the causative organisms and their antibiotic sensitivities. Starting antibiotics before obtaining blood cultures can reduce the likelihood of growing the bacteria in the culture, potentially leading to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. This is a deviation from the standard of care that requires a variance report.