A nurse manager is reviewing the steps of the progressive discipline process prior to counseling a staff member who exhibits unprofessional behavior. Identify the sequence of steps the nurse manager should plan to take in response to the staff member's conduct. (Move the steps into the box on the right, placing them in order of performance. Use all the steps.)

A. "The nurse will initiate acupuncture when I arrive at the unit.": Acupuncture must be performed by a trained and licensed practitioner, not a bedside nurse. While it can be used for labor pain, it is not typically initiated by nursing staff upon admission.

B. "I can use my ultrasound picture as a focal point during contractions.": Focal point techniques, such as concentrating on a meaningful object like an ultrasound picture, help distract from pain and promote relaxation.

C. "A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator will help with pelvic pressure.": TENS units are primarily effective for back pain in early labor rather than pelvic pressure. They work by stimulating sensory nerves to reduce pain perception but are less effective for deep pelvic discomfort.

D. "My nurse can teach me biofeedback at the beginning of labor.": Biofeedback requires prior training and practice before labor begins to be effective. Learning it for the first time during active labor is impractical and unlikely to yield good results.

Rationale:

A. Verbally remind the staff member of the expected behaviour changes: After the initial meeting, a verbal reminder reinforces expectations and gives the staff member an opportunity to improve without formal penalties.

B. Suspend the staff member from work for several days: Suspension is used when prior interventions have not resulted in improvement. It serves as a serious consequence, giving time for reflection before returning to work.

C. Give the staff member a written warning about the behavior: A written warning follows a verbal reminder if the unprofessional behavior continues. It creates a formal record and communicates the seriousness of the issue.

D. Dismiss the staff member from employment at the facility: Termination is the final step when all other corrective measures have failed and the behavior persists, ensuring workplace standards and safety are maintained.

E. Set up a meeting to speak with the staff member about the behavior: The first action is to meet privately to discuss the observed behavior, clarify expectations, and begin the progressive discipline process in a constructive manner.