A charge nurse suspects that a staff nurse is chemically impaired. Which of the following actions should the charge nurse take?
Counsel the staff nurse about substance use.
Collect data about the staff nurse to support further action.
Report the staff nurse to the facility ethics committee.
Assign clients who are not prescribed narcotics to the staff nurse.
The Correct Answer is B
Rationale:
A. Counseling the staff nurse directly is not the charge nurse’s role in this situation. Formal evaluation and intervention are handled through appropriate channels, not peer-to-peer counseling.
B. The charge nurse should first gather objective data (such as documentation of behavior, medication handling, or performance concerns) to support further action. This ensures any report is factual and unbiased.
C. The facility’s ethics committee does not handle suspected staff impairment. Reporting goes through management and possibly employee health or human resources.
D. Assigning “safe” clients to the nurse does not address the potential risk to all clients and enables impaired practice, which is unsafe and unethical.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Facial numbness after a thyroidectomy suggests hypocalcemia, likely due to parathyroid gland injury, and places the client at risk for laryngeal spasms and airway obstruction. This is the priority client.
B. Pain with voiding from acute pyelonephritis is important but not immediately life-threatening.
C. Teaching about insulin administration is necessary but not urgent compared to airway compromise.
D. Clear liquid stools before a colon resection are expected and indicate proper bowel preparation, not an urgent concern.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Rationale:
A. Memory loss may require referral to neuropsychology or speech therapy for cognitive rehabilitation, not occupational therapy.
B. Receptive aphasia (difficulty understanding language) is best addressed by a speech-language pathologist, not an occupational therapist.
C. Facial drooping relates to motor weakness and swallowing/speech issues, which are typically managed by physical therapy and speech therapy.
D. Unilateral neglect (ignoring one side of the body or environment) after a stroke affects the client’s ability to perform activities of daily living. Occupational therapy focuses on improving independence in self-care and adapting to such deficits.
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