A charge nurse in a long-term care facility notices the smell of alcohol on a nurse's breath.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Call the supervisor to ask for another nurse.

Document objective findings about the situation.

Remove the nurse from the client care area.

Assign clients to the remaining staff.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A rationale:

Calling the supervisor to ask for another nurse is not the first action the charge nurse should take when noticing the smell of alcohol on a nurse's breath. While it's important to involve the supervisor, immediate action to ensure patient safety is required.

Choice B rationale:

Documenting objective findings about the situation is a valid step in the process, but it should not be the first action. The charge nurse's primary responsibility is to address the immediate safety concerns.

Choice C rationale:

Removing the nurse from the client care area is the first action the charge nurse should take when smelling alcohol on a nurse's breath. This action ensures patient safety and prevents potential harm caused by impaired nursing care.

Choice D rationale:

Assigning clients to the remaining staff is not the first action to take when there is suspicion of alcohol impairment in a nurse. Patient safety and addressing the situation involving the impaired nurse take precedence.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A rationale:

Removing wrist restraints one at a time from a calm client, while not following the recommended two-person verification process, is a potential safety concern but may not require an incident report. However, it should be addressed according to the facility's policies and procedures.

Choice B rationale:

An electronic IV pump delivering twice the prescribed amount of fluid is a critical incident that should be reported immediately via an incident report. Such errors can have serious consequences for the patient and may require immediate intervention.

Choice C rationale:

Discovering that a client's family member administered a PCA dose is also a significant event that should be reported via an incident report. PCA (Patient-Controlled Analgesia) dosing should only be administered by healthcare professionals to ensure safe and accurate medication delivery.

Choice D rationale:

Observing a client vomiting after receiving an oral pain medication should be addressed and documented in the patient's medical record as a change in the patient's condition, but it may not necessarily require an incident report unless there are extenuating circumstances or complications.

A. Replace the IV pump's tubing. B. Clear the settings and reset the IV pump. C. Plug the IV pump's cord into a different outlet. D. Discontinue use and tag the IV pump.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A rationale:

Replace the IV pump's tubing. Replacing the IV pump's tubing is not the appropriate action when the IV pump screen is malfunctioning. Malfunctioning tubing does not typically affect the pump's screen or settings.

Choice B rationale:

Clear the settings and reset the IV pump. Clearing the settings and resetting the IV pump may not be effective if the screen is malfunctioning. It is important to ensure the accuracy and safety of IV fluid administration, and troubleshooting the screen is not a reliable solution in the case of a malfunction.

Choice C rationale:

Plug the IV pump's cord into a different outlet. Changing the outlet may help if the issue is related to electrical power, but it is not the most appropriate action when the IV pump screen is malfunctioning. Safety concerns and potential equipment issues warrant discontinuing use and tagging the pump.

Choice D rationale:

Discontinue use and tag the IV pump. When the IV pump screen is malfunctioning, the safest and most appropriate action is to discontinue its use and tag the pump. This ensures that the malfunctioning equipment is not used on other patients and that a thorough inspection and repair can be conducted to prevent potential harm to the patient.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A charge nurse in a long-term care facility notices the smell of alcohol on a nurse's breath.Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is contributing to an in-service for newly licensed nurses about situations requiring an incident report. Which of the following examples should the nurse include?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A nurse is providing a client with IV fluids and finds that the IV pump screen is malfunctioning.Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a client who is postoperative following a subtotal thyroidectomy. The nurse should place the client in which of the following positions?

A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has GERD and a prescription for pantoprazole. Which of the following statements indicates an understanding of the teaching?

A nurse is reviewing laboratory findings for three clients.Which of the following laboratory results should the nurse expect for a client who has cirrhosis?

A nurse is obtaining an oxygen saturation on a client.Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A nurse is assisting with the development of an education program for a group of older adults.Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A nurse is reinforcing teaching about home safety precautions with the parents of a 3-month-old infant. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?

A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the parents of a toddler who has a new diagnosis of asthma and a prescription for montelukast. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?

The nurse is continuing to assist with the care of the client. Exhibits Select words from the choices below to fill in each blank in the following sentence. The complications that the client is at greatest risk for developing are dropdown and dropdown complications.

A charge nurse in a long-term care facility notices the smell of alcohol on a nurse's breath.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?