A nurse is caring for a client who is comatose. The client has a living will that declines the use of artificial enteral nutrition as a life-sustaining measure, but the client's family has requested that the staff begin tube feedings. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Choice A rationale:

Writing a memorandum emphasizing the importance of attending staff meetings might help remind the staff about the significance of these meetings. However, it does not address the root causes of the poor attendance issue. Exploring the reasons behind the lack of attendance should come before issuing reminders.

Choice B rationale:

Appointing a task force to promote attendance at the meetings is a proactive step. However, it might be premature without understanding the reasons for the poor attendance. The task force's efforts could be more effective if informed by a thorough analysis of the underlying issues.

Choice C rationale:

Exploring the reasons that staff are not attending the meetings is the crucial first step. Understanding the factors contributing to the poor attendance allows the charge nurse to tailor interventions appropriately. Reasons could include scheduling conflicts, lack of engagement, or dissatisfaction with meeting content.

Choice D rationale:

Reducing the number of meetings staff are required to attend might address the attendance issue, but it doesn't address the root causes. It's important to identify the reasons behind poor attendance before making decisions about changing meeting frequency.

The correct answer is C.

Choice A: Take extra wheelchairs to the emergency department While having extra wheelchairs available can be helpful in a disaster situation, it is not the primary responsibility of the PACU charge nurse. The logistics of equipment distribution would typically be managed by a different team or department.

Choice B: Send PACU assistive personnel to assist with triage Triage is a critical part of disaster response, but it is typically performed by trained emergency department personnel or those with specific training in disaster triage. PACU personnel should focus on their area of expertise, which is post-anesthesia care.

Choice C: Identify stable clients for transfer to a surgical unit This is the correct action. By identifying stable clients for transfer, the PACU charge nurse can free up space for incoming patients who may require immediate post-operative care. This action helps to ensure that the PACU is ready to receive patients who are likely to come from the emergency department after immediate lifesaving interventions.

Choice D: Report to the command center for further instructions While communication with the command center is important in a disaster situation, the PACU charge nurse’s primary responsibility is to manage the care environment and patient flow within their specific unit. Other teams or personnel would likely handle tasks like reporting to the command center.