A nurse manager is teaching a group of employees about standards for Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN). Which of the following statements by an employee should the nurse manager identify as an example of the QSEN concept of quality improvement?

A. A client awaiting a screening colonoscopy later that day: This client is appropriate for early discharge. As the procedure is non-invasive and not urgent, the client can be discharged and return for the scheduled screening without compromising their health. This decision allows for the efficient use of hospital resources following a mass casualty event.

B. A client whose discharge was cancelled the prior day because they developed respiratory distress: Recommending discharge for this client is not advisable, as their recent respiratory distress indicates ongoing health issues that require monitoring and care. Early discharge could jeopardize their safety and recovery.

C. A client who is 6 hr postoperative following an open cholecystectomy: This client is not a suitable candidate for early discharge. Postoperative patients typically require observation and care to monitor for complications, such as infection or bleeding, in the hours following surgery. Early discharge could put this client's recovery at risk.

D. A client who is prescribed gastric lavage treatments to treat acute aspirin toxicity: This client should not be recommended for early discharge, as they require ongoing treatment and monitoring for aspirin toxicity. Discharging this client prematurely could lead to serious health complications and does not ensure their safety and well-being.

A. Anesthesiologists: Anesthesiologists have full prescriptive authority as licensed physicians, allowing them to provide telephone medication orders. Their prescribing rights apply in various healthcare settings, following institutional policies and legal guidelines.

B. Physician assistants: Physician assistants have prescriptive authority under physician supervision and can give telephone medication orders where permitted. Their prescribing ability depends on state regulations and facility policies but generally includes routine and emergency prescriptions.

C. Facility pharmacists: Facility pharmacists dispense medications and provide guidance on drug therapy but do not have the legal authority to prescribe. While they collaborate with providers, they cannot issue telephone medication prescriptions.

D. Mental health technicians: Mental health technicians assist with patient care in psychiatric settings but lack the training and licensure required to prescribe medications. Their responsibilities focus on supportive tasks, and they cannot give telephone medication prescriptions.

E. Nurse practitioners: Nurse practitioners have independent or collaborative prescriptive authority depending on state regulations. They can provide telephone medication orders within their scope of practice, ensuring timely medication management for patients.