A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing expressive aphasia and right hemiparesis following a stroke.
Which of the following actions by the nurse best promotes communication among staff caring for the client?

The correct answer is:

Choice C: Determine the medical needs of incoming clients through the emergency department.

Here's a breakdown of the rationale for each choice:

Choice A rationale: While calling in additional staff might be helpful in the long run, during the initial surge of patients in a mass casualty event, the Emergency Department (ED) will be the primary area receiving and triaging patients. The medical-surgical unit will likely receive overflow patients after initial stabilization in the ED.

Choice B rationale: This is not a primary responsibility for a nurse on a medical-surgical unit during a mass casualty event. Communication with the media is usually handled by designated public relations personnel.

Choice C rationale: This is the most crucial action for a nurse in this situation. Triaging patients based on the severity of their injuries and prioritizing care is essential in a mass casualty scenario. Nurses will be instrumental in assessing incoming patients relayed from the ED to determine their medical needs and allocate resources accordingly.

Choice D rationale: Discharging patients is not a priority during the initial influx of casualties. The focus is on receiving, stabilizing, and treating the most critically injured patients. Discharges would likely happen after the initial surge subsides.

This is because the nurse should establish eye contact and rapport with the client, not the interpreter, and show respect for the client’s culture and autonomy. The nurse should also use simple and clear language, avoid jargon and slang, and speak in short sentences.

Choice A is wrong because using gestures to convey meaning can be confusing or offensive to some cultures. The nurse should avoid relying on nonverbal communication and ask the interpreter for clarification if needed.

Choice B is wrong because pausing in the middle of sentences can disrupt the flow of communication and make it harder for the interpreter to translate accurately. The nurse should pause at the end of each complete thought or sentence to allow the interpreter to relay the information.

Choice C is wrong because speaking slowly when talking to the interpreter can imply that the interpreter is incompetent or unintelligent. The nurse should speak at a normal pace and tone, and allow enough time for the interpreter to translate.