The nurse arrives at work and is told to report (float) to the intensive care unit (ICU) for the day because the ICU is understaffed and needs additional nurses to care for the clients. The nurse has never worked in the ICU. The nurse should take which best action?

Ask the nursing supervisor to review the hospital's floating policy.

Clarify with the team leader to make a safe ICU client assignment.

Refuse to float to the ICU based on a lack of unit orientation.

Submit a written protest to nursing administration, then call the hospital's lawyer.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Rationale:

A. While understanding the hospital’s policy is important, this step alone does not address immediate patient safety concerns or the nurse’s own competence in providing ICU-level care. Floating policies usually allow for temporary reassignment, but safe client assignments must still be individualized based on the nurse’s skills and experience.

B. This is the best action. Nurses are legally and ethically responsible for providing safe care within their scope of practice and competence. Since the nurse has never worked in the ICU, it is critical to communicate openly with the team leader or charge nurse to assign clients that match the nurse’s skills, such as lower-acuity patients or supportive tasks under supervision. This ensures client safety while maintaining professional responsibility.

C. Complete refusal may not be appropriate without first attempting to find a safe solution. Nurses are expected to be flexible, but they must also advocate for patient safety and their own competency. Automatic refusal could be seen as insubordination unless a compromise, such as a safe assignment or orientation, is not possible.

D. This action is extreme and unnecessary in this situation. Legal action is not warranted when immediate patient care issues can be resolved through communication and clarification with supervisors. Taking this step would delay patient care and escalate conflict unnecessarily.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Rationale:

A. The primary principle in any situation involving electricity is safety. The client has already reported feeling an electric shock, which indicates that the device is still potentially hazardous. The first step must be to eliminate the source of danger by unplugging the radio or ensuring it is no longer connected to electricity. This protects both the client and anyone else in the area from further injury. Safety always takes precedence over assessment or administrative tasks.

B. While taking an apical pulse is important after an electric shock to assess for arrhythmias or other cardiac effects, it is secondary to removing the hazard. Performing an assessment while the source of electricity is still present could put the nurse or client at additional risk. Once the radio is disconnected and the client is safe, the nurse should then immediately assess cardiac status, including pulse, heart rhythm, and vital signs.

C. Having the maintenance department check the device is necessary to prevent future hazards, but it is a later action, not the first priority. Immediate safety and assessment of the client’s condition take precedence over administrative follow-up.

D. Inspecting for burns or other injuries is essential, as electric shocks can cause external burns, internal tissue damage, or cardiac complications, but again, it is secondary. The nurse must first remove the source of electricity to prevent additional injury. After the device is disconnected, the nurse can safely evaluate for burns, neurological changes, or other complications.

A. Tell the new nurse that rotating the access site would cause the client harm. B. Ask the new nurse what they understand about the evidence for rotating sites. C. Teach the new nurse how to insert a peripheral intravenous line. D. Remind the new nurse that research findings should always be applied to practice.

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Rationale:
A. This response is not the most appropriate because it is confrontational and may undermine the new nurse in front of the client. While rotating sites unnecessarily may cause discomfort, simply stating it would cause harm does not promote learning or critical thinking. It also fails to assess the new nurse’s current understanding of evidence-based practice.

B. This is the best response because it uses a supportive, educational approach consistent with professional nursing practice. By asking the new nurse what they understand about the evidence, the experienced nurse encourages critical thinking, assesses knowledge gaps, and creates an opportunity for teaching about current research. This aligns with principles of evidence-based practice and promotes a collaborative learning environment without embarrassing the new nurse.

C. This option is inappropriate because the issue is not about the technical skill of inserting an IV line, but rather about applying current evidence to practice. Teaching a skill does not address the misunderstanding regarding outdated practice.

D. While this statement is true, it is too vague and does not actively engage the new nurse in understanding or applying the evidence. It also misses the opportunity to assess the nurse’s knowledge and guide them toward correct clinical reasoning.

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The nurse arrives at work and is told to report (float) to the intensive care unit (ICU) for the day because the ICU is understaffed and needs additional nurses to care for the clients. The nurse has never worked in the ICU. The nurse should take which best action?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A family member brings an electric radio to a client in a long-term care facility. The client tells the nurse that an electric shock was felt while turning on the radio. Which should the nurse do first?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A nurse is working with an emergency response team in caring for a group of people who may have been exposed to anthrax while doing farm work. Which action should the nurse take?

The registered nurse (RN) charge nurse observes the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) turning the jaundiced client who has just had a liver biopsy to the supine position, which action should the charge nurse implement first?

A disagreement has arisen over the transfer process for clients between two hospital units. What is the best way to handle this disagreement?

A nurse is performing a root cause analysis (RCA) for a client who had a surgical procedure that was performed on the wrong site. Which of the following questions should the nurse ask during an RCA? Select all that apply.

A charge nurse explains the benefits of preceptorship and mentorship to a new graduate nurse. Which example best represents the act of mentoring?

The nurse is reviewing the difference between quantitative and qualitative data. Complete the following sentence by using the list of options. Data analysis for qualitative research consists more of dropdown information, while quantitative research focuses on dropdown data.