A nurse manager has asked other nurses to contribute to the performance appraisal of a newly licensed nurse.

Exhibits

For each assessment finding, click to specify if the finding is consistent with the need for further nurse development related to Time Management, Delegation, or Professional Behavior. Each finding may support more than 1 assessment finding.

Rationale:

A. Inform the state medical board for an immediate investigation is not the initial step; concerns should first be reported to appropriate facility personnel.

B. Counsel the provider to determine the cause of the substance abuse is not the nurse’s role; this is a serious issue that requires reporting rather than counseling.

C. Notify the nursing supervisor of the concerns is the appropriate initial step to address the issue according to facility protocol.

D. Encourage clients to change to a different provider is not within the nurse’s scope of practice for handling the provider's behavior and does not address the root issue.

A. Reassign the task to another nurse: While reassignment may be an option, it does not address the underlying issue. Ensuring the LPN has the knowledge and skill to complete the task is more effective in addressing both immediate and future concerns.

B. Report the issue to the unit manager: Reporting to the manager might be appropriate if the issue persists or reflects repeated non-compliance. However, verifying the LPN's competence and addressing the problem directly should be the first step.

C. Change the client’s dressing: While changing the dressing resolves the immediate client need, it does not address the issue of delegation or why the task was not completed. This approach bypasses the opportunity to assess and support the LPN.

D. Verify the LPN knows how to do a dressing change: Before taking further action, the charge nurse should determine why the task was not completed. If the LPN lacks the knowledge or skill to perform a dressing change, the nurse must address this gap and provide appropriate education or support to ensure client care is not compromised.