A charge nurse suspects that a staff nurse is chemically impaired. Which of the following actions should the charge nurse take?
Counsel the staff nurse about substance use.
Collect data about the staff nurse to support further action.
Report the staff nurse to the facility ethics committee.
Assign clients who are not prescribed narcotics to the staff nurse.
The Correct Answer is B
Rationale:
A. Counseling the staff nurse directly is not the charge nurse’s role in this situation. Formal evaluation and intervention are handled through appropriate channels, not peer-to-peer counseling.
B. The charge nurse should first gather objective data (such as documentation of behavior, medication handling, or performance concerns) to support further action. This ensures any report is factual and unbiased.
C. The facility’s ethics committee does not handle suspected staff impairment. Reporting goes through management and possibly employee health or human resources.
D. Assigning “safe” clients to the nurse does not address the potential risk to all clients and enables impaired practice, which is unsafe and unethical.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Discussing the risks of the procedure is the provider’s responsibility, not the nurse’s. The provider must ensure informed consent.
B. If the client expresses concerns after signing consent, the nurse should notify the provider immediately so the provider can clarify information, answer questions, and reconfirm consent.
C. The nurse does not have the authority to postpone the procedure; that decision must be made by the provider.
D. Emphasizing the importance of the procedure could be seen as coercive and does not respect the client’s right to informed decision-making.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Implied consent occurs when a client’s actions or nonverbal behavior indicate agreement to care. For example, extending an arm for a blood draw implies consent.
B. A nurse’s signature on a consent form indicates that the nurse witnessed the client’s signature, but this refers to informed consent, not implied consent.
C. Verbal or written consent describes express consent, not implied consent.
D. Understanding risks and benefits is part of informed consent, which requires explanation by the provider—not implied consent.
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