A nurse is providing teaching to a client who is to begin external radiation therapy for cancer. Which of the following information should the nurse include?

The correct answer is b. Remove the device from the room.

Choice A rationale:

• Reporting the defect to the equipment maintenance staff is essential,but it's not the immediate priority.The primary concern is to eliminate the safety hazard posed by the frayed cord to prevent potential harm to the client and others.
• Delaying the removal of the device could lead to electrical shock,fire,or other serious consequences.
• Therefore,removing the device from the room takes precedence over reporting the defect.

Choice B rationale:

• Removing the device from the room is the most appropriate first action because it:
  • Eliminates the immediate safety hazard.
  • Prevents potential harm to the client and others.
  • Protects the device from further damage.
  • Ensures the safety of the environment.
  • Demonstrates the nurse's prioritization of patient safety.

Choice C rationale:

• Initiating a requisition for a replacement CPM device is necessary to ensure the client's continued treatment.
• However,it's not the first action because it doesn't address the immediate safety concern.
• The nurse should first remove the faulty device and then initiate the process for obtaining a replacement.

Choice D rationale:

• Ensuring the device inspection sticker is current is a vital part of equipment maintenance.
• However,it's not relevant to the immediate safety issue of the frayed cord.
• The presence of a current inspection sticker doesn't guarantee the device's safety or functionality at that moment.
• The nurse must prioritize removing the hazard and then follow up with appropriate documentation and reporting.

The correct first action for the charge nurse to take in response to an increase in facility-acquired catheter infections is toidentify possible precipitating factors related to the infections. This is because understanding the root cause of the problem is crucial before implementing any changes or interventions. By identifying the factors contributing to the increase in infections, the nurse can then develop targeted strategies to address these specific issues.

Now, let’s discuss why the other options are not the first actions to take:

1. Schedule nursing staff training for infection control procedures: While training is important, it should be based on identified needs. Without first understanding the precipitating factors of the increased infections, the training may not address the actual issues at hand.

2. Meet with providers to discuss measures to decrease the infections: This could be a subsequent step after identifying the precipitating factors. Meeting with providers without concrete data or understanding of the problem may lead to ineffective solutions.

3. Revise the current policy for catheter care: Policy revision should be based on evidence and identified needs. It would be premature to revise policies without first understanding what factors are contributing to the increase in infections.

In summary, the first step in addressing a problem is always to understand its causes. Only then can effective solutions be developed and implemented.