A nurse is collecting data from a client during a routine prenatal visit. The client is in their second trimester of pregnancy and reports feeling dizzy, has a racing heart, and becomes pale while lying on their back.

Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

When a charge nurse observes the smell of alcohol on a nurse's breath, it raises concerns about their ability to provide safe and competent care to clients. Patient safety is of utmost importance, and the charge nurse must take immediate action to address the situation.

Removing the nurse from the client care area ensures that the nurse is not involved in direct patient care while their ability to provide safe care is in question. This step helps mitigate potential risks to patient safety.

B and D- After removing the nurse from the client care area, further actions can be taken, such as documenting the objective findings about the situation and informing the supervisor. However, the immediate priority is to ensure patient safety by removing the nurse from the care area.

A- Assigning clients to the remaining staff can be done once the situation has been addressed and a suitable replacement for the nurse has been arranged.

An incident report is a tool used to document any unexpected or adverse event that occurs in the healthcare setting. It is important to report incidents to ensure proper investigation, analysis, and implementation of measures to prevent future occurrences.

In this example, the incident involves an error with an electronic IV pump resulting in the delivery of an incorrect amount of fluid, which can have serious implications for the client's safety and well-being.

The other examples listed may require further actions but may not necessarily require an incident report:

1. A nurse discovers that a client's family member has administered a PCA dose: While it is concerning that a client's family member administered a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) dose, it is more appropriate to address this situation through immediate intervention, education, and communication with the healthcare provider. An incident report may not be necessary unless there are further complications or system issues related to this incident.
2. A nurse observes another nurse remove wrist restraints one at a time from a client who is currently calm: While the observation of improper restraint removal raises concerns about proper restraint protocol, it is more appropriate to address this situation through immediate intervention and communication with the involved nurse and healthcare provider. Depending on the severity of the situation, an incident report may or may not be warranted, but it is not the primary action in this case.
3. A nurse observes a client vomiting after receiving an oral pain medication: While it is important to assess and address the client's condition and any adverse reactions, such as vomiting after receiving medication, it may not necessarily require an incident report. The nurse should assess the client, notify the healthcare provider, and document the incident appropriately in the client's medical record.