A nurse observes an unknown man in a laboratory coat making copies of a client's medical record. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A nurse's best protection against negligence or malpractice is to follow the standards of practice. These standards define the acceptable level of care that a nurse is expected to provide and are based on current evidence and professional consensus. By adhering to these standards, a nurse can demonstrate that they have provided care that meets the expected level of quality and safety.

The other options are not the best protection against negligence or malpractice. Asking permission from the managing nurse prior to performing any duties [a] may be helpful in some situations, but it is not a guarantee against negligence or malpractice. Never being alone with a patient [c] is not practical or necessary for providing safe and effective care. Recording patient interactions with your phone [d] may violate patient privacy and is not an effective way to prevent negligence or malpractice.

The nurse should intervene when the AP tears a document with client information in half before disposing of it in a waste basket. This is because client information is confidential and should be disposed of properly to protect the client's privacy. Tearing a document in half is not sufficient to ensure that the information is protected.
Option A is incorrect because logging off the computer after entering a client's intake and output totals is an appropriate action.
Option C is incorrect because denying a request by another AP to use her password to enter the client's vital signs is an appropriate action to protect the client's information.
Option D is incorrect because removing a clipboard with client information from the room during visiting hours may be necessary to protect the client's privacy.