Which staff assignment, made by the primary nurse, requires the most immediate follow-up action by the charge nurse on a medical unit?

Choice A Reason: A client with multisystem failure secondary to a motor vehicle collision is not an appropriate assignment for the new graduate nurse. This client has complex and unstable needs that require advanced assessment, intervention, and evaluation skills. The nurse should assign this client to a nurse with 10 years experience, who has more expertise and confidence in managing critically ill clients.

Choice B Reason: A client in end-stage liver failure who is experiencing esophageal bleeding is not an appropriate assignment for the new graduate nurse. This client has a high risk of complications such as hemorrhage, infection, hepatic encephalopathy, and hepatic coma. The nurse should assign this client to a nurse with 5 years experience, who has more knowledge and skill in providing palliative care and managing bleeding disorders.

Choice C Reason: A client with Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome who is on a ventilator is not an appropriate assignment for the new graduate nurse. This client has a life-threatening condition that requires close monitoring of respiratory status, oxygenation, and hemodynamics. The nurse should assign this client to a nurse with 10 years of experience, who has more competence and proficiency in caring for ventilated clients and interpreting data from invasive devices.

Choice D Reason: A client with chest tubes secondary to a stab wound to the chest is an appropriate assignment for the new graduate nurse. This client has a relatively stable condition that requires routine care of chest tubes, pain management, and wound healing. The nurse should assign this client to the new graduate nurse, who has learned the basic principles and techniques of chest tube management during the refresher course and the internship. The charge nurse should also provide supervision and support to the new graduate nurse as needed.

Choice A Reason: Announcing the new plan at a special employee wellness event may be a good way to promote the plan and celebrate the achievement, but it is not the most important action. The nurses working on the committee should first communicate the plan to their colleagues and address any questions or concerns they may have.

Choice B Reason: Determining staff opinion of current healthcare insurance costs may be useful for evaluating the need and feasibility of the new plan, but it is not the most important action. The nurses working on the committee should have done this before developing and approving the new plan, not after.

Choice C Reason: Surveying the nurses to see who wants to keep the old benefits plan may be helpful for assessing the satisfaction and acceptance of the new plan, but it is not the most important action. The nurses working on the committee should have considered the preferences and needs of their colleagues during the development and approval of the new plan, not after.

Choice D Reason: Being available to all shifts to discuss the changes in health benefits is the most important action for the nurses working on the committee to implement, as it shows respect and transparency for their colleagues, and fosters a collaborative and supportive work environment. The nurses working on the committee should explain the rationale and benefits of the new plan, and provide feedback and guidance to their colleagues.