A nurse is caring for a postoperative client and obtains a pulse oximeter reading of 89%. Which of the following interventions should the nurse take first?

A. Instruct the client to report the theft to the police: While reporting to law enforcement is an option, the client may feel intimidated or unsafe doing so, and immediate protection and assessment of the situation are more urgent. The nurse’s priority is ensuring safety and initiating appropriate protective services.

B. Report the possible abuse to adult protective services: Financial exploitation is a form of elder abuse. Nurses are mandated reporters and should notify adult protective services to investigate and intervene as needed. This ensures the client’s safety, prevents further exploitation, and connects them with resources for protection and support.

C. Ask the client if there is another family member they can call for financial help: While exploring support systems is important, relying on another family member without assessment may not address potential abuse and does not fulfill the nurse’s legal obligation to report suspected exploitation.

D. Restrict visitation for the client's family until discharge: Restricting visitation may limit contact temporarily, but it does not address the underlying abuse or ensure ongoing protection. Reporting to protective services provides a structured and legal mechanism for safeguarding the client.

A. An employee is using a bassinet to move a newborn from the nursery to the mother's room: Transporting a newborn in a bassinet within the unit is standard practice and does not indicate a security breach. Employees are trained to move infants safely between nursery and mother’s room as part of routine care.

B. An individual is wearing an identification badge without a photograph: While a photo badge is important for verifying identity, encountering someone without a photo badge does not immediately indicate a security threat. The nurse should verify the individual’s credentials, but it does not warrant activating a facility-wide security alert.

C. A parent requests that an individual who plans to perform tests on their newborn be identified: This situation involves parental verification of personnel, which is part of routine patient rights and safety practices. It does not represent a security breach requiring an alert, but staff should provide appropriate identification and explanations.

D. A newborn in a client's room is missing one of its identification bands: Missing identification bands on a newborn is a serious safety concern and indicates a potential risk for misidentification or abduction. This situation requires immediate initiation of a security alert according to hospital policy to protect the infant and notify appropriate security personnel.