The nurse in a skilled nursing facility observes a colleague leaving printed electronic medical record (EMR) copies of a client unattended on a countertop. Which action should the nurse implement?
Send an email to facility administrators reporting the action.
Warn the colleague that copying health information is unlawful.
Dispose of the copies and continue with client care assignments.
Communicate the colleague’s activities to the unit charge nurse.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A rationale
Sending an email to facility administrators reporting the action may not be the most immediate or effective way to address the situation. It could delay the necessary intervention and does not ensure that the issue is resolved promptly.
Choice B rationale
Warning the colleague that copying health information is unlawful is important, but it may not adequately address the potential breach of patient privacy and confidentiality. The colleague may already be aware of the laws but still engage in inappropriate behavior.
Choice C rationale
Disposing of the copies and continuing with client care assignments prevents further unauthorized access to patient information but does not address the issue of the colleague’s inappropriate handling of the records. It is essential to report the incident to the appropriate authority for further investigation and follow-up.
Choice D rationale
Communicating the colleague’s activities to the unit charge nurse is the most appropriate action because it informs the person in charge of the unit about the observed behavior, allowing for immediate intervention and potential corrective action. The unit charge nurse can address the situation promptly and ensure that patient privacy and confidentiality are maintained.
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Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Negligence would require proof that the nurse failed to act in a manner consistent with their training and that this failure directly caused harm to the victim. In this case, the nurse provided assistance and then left the scene after EMS arrived, which does not constitute negligence.
Choice B rationale
Assault and battery involve intentional harm or offensive contact, which is not applicable in this scenario as the nurse was providing assistance.
Choice C rationale
The Good Samaritan laws are designed to protect individuals who provide assistance at the scene of an emergency from legal liability, provided they act in good faith and within the scope of their training. In this scenario, the nurse acted to help the victim and then left the scene after EMS arrived, which is generally protected under Good Samaritan laws.
Choice D rationale
Abandonment would require that the nurse left the victim without ensuring that they were in the care of another competent individual. Since the nurse left after EMS arrived, this does not constitute abandonment.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Identifying effective pain relief measures is important, but it does not directly assess the quality of the pain. This approach focuses on management rather than understanding the pain’s characteristics.
Choice B rationale
Asking the client to describe the pain is the most direct way to assess its quality. This allows the nurse to gather detailed information about the pain’s nature, intensity, and characteristics, which is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Choice C rationale
Providing a numeric pain scale helps quantify the pain’s intensity but does not provide qualitative details about the pain’s nature. It is useful for monitoring pain levels over time but not for initial assessment.
Choice D rationale
Observing body language and movement can give clues about pain but is subjective and less reliable than directly asking the client. It should be used as a supplementary method rather than the primary approach.