A nurse is assisting with the plan of care for a client.
Which of the following activities should the nurse include in the implementation phase of the nursing process?

Choice A rationale

Teaching prescribed medications focuses on education rather than advocacy. Advocacy specifically involves representing or supporting the client’s unique needs and rights. While medication education is a valuable nursing function, it does not encompass the broader scope of advocacy that emphasizes active representation and championing of a client’s priorities.

Choice B rationale

Collaboration with team members highlights teamwork, which is essential but distinct from advocacy. Advocacy involves a nurse acting as an intermediary between the client and healthcare system, prioritizing the client’s voice. Collaboration, although beneficial for client outcomes, lacks the personalized focus inherent to advocacy.

Choice C rationale

Encouraging the expression of feelings is integral to emotional support and therapeutic communication but does not inherently constitute advocacy. Advocacy goes beyond emotional expression by actively ensuring that the client’s needs and preferences are addressed within the healthcare framework.

Choice D rationale

Advocacy involves actively supporting the client’s needs, which aligns with the concept of representing their best interests. It ensures their priorities and rights are addressed, particularly in situations where the client may feel vulnerable or unheard, making it the core aspect of advocacy.

Choice A rationale: Continuing to administer the medication and observing the client for adverse reactions is inappropriate in this scenario. Lack of training on the infusion pump poses a risk of medication errors, which could lead to patient harm. Proper operation of medical devices requires adequate training and understanding to ensure safety and effectiveness. Observing adverse reactions does not prevent potential errors during administration.

Choice B rationale: Notifying the charge nurse and requesting the client to be reassigned to another nurse is the correct action. Nurses must prioritize patient safety and act within their scope of competence. Communicating the lack of training ensures that the task is reassigned to a qualified nurse who can safely and accurately operate the infusion pump, minimizing risks associated with improper use.

Choice C rationale: Referring to the manufacturer's guidelines and proceeding to use the infusion pump is not the best approach. While guidelines provide technical instructions, nurses need hands-on training to fully understand and safely operate medical devices. Misinterpretation of the guidelines or insufficient familiarity with the pump's mechanisms can lead to errors, compromising patient safety.

Choice D rationale: Allowing another nurse to demonstrate the use of the infusion pump and then taking over may seem reasonable but is not ideal in this case. Demonstration alone cannot guarantee adequate competence, as proper training includes practice and assessment. The immediate priority is to ensure safe medication administration, which requires a trained and experienced nurse to handle the infusion pump directly.