A nurse is reinforcing teaching with staff members about the protocol for extinguishing a fire in a trash can in a client's room. After removing the client from the room, which of the following actions should the nurse instruct the staff members to take next?

A) Sublingual medication is crushed and administered through a client's gastrostomy tube: This scenario represents a violation of the client's right to refuse treatment or medication. Administering medication through a route other than the one prescribed without the client's consent is inappropriate and can result in harm or adverse effects.

B) Finger nail marks appear on a client's wrist after a radial pulse was taken: This scenario indicates a violation of the client's right to be free from abuse. Evidence of physical harm, such as finger nail marks, suggests that the client may have been handled roughly or experienced unnecessary force during the procedure, which is unacceptable.

C) Pain medication is administered 1 hr before a client has a dressing change: While administering pain medication slightly ahead of a painful procedure may be appropriate to provide optimal pain relief, it does not inherently violate the client's rights if it aligns with the client's pain management plan and preferences. Therefore, this scenario does not represent a clear violation of client rights.

D) The same indwelling urinary catheter is reinserted after a failed attempt: Reinserting the same urinary catheter after a failed attempt could represent a violation of the client's right to safe care and freedom from unnecessary discomfort. Repeated attempts at catheter insertion without clinical justification increase the risk of infection and discomfort for the client.

E) Medications scheduled four times a day are administered 2 hr after the scheduled time: Administering medications significantly late violates the client's right to receive care in a timely manner. Delayed medication administration can affect treatment efficacy and compromise the client's well-being, especially for medications with strict dosing schedules.

B) Log the previous user out of the system:

The immediate action the nurse should take is to protect the client's confidentiality by logging out the previous user from the computer system. This ensures that unauthorized individuals do not have access to the client's health information. By taking this step promptly, the nurse mitigates the risk of unauthorized viewing of sensitive information.

A) Complete an incident report:

While completing an incident report is important for documenting the occurrence, it is not the first action the nurse should take. The priority is to address the immediate breach of confidentiality by securing the computer system to prevent further unauthorized access.

C) Report the incident to the charge nurse:

Reporting the incident to the charge nurse is essential, but it should follow the immediate action of logging out the previous user from the system. The charge nurse can then coordinate any necessary follow-up actions and ensure that appropriate measures are taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.

D) Offer to conduct a unit in-service on client confidentiality:

While staff education on client confidentiality is valuable for preventing future breaches, it is not the first action needed in response to the immediate situation. Addressing the current breach takes precedence to protect the client's privacy. Staff education can be considered as a proactive measure after addressing the immediate concern.