The risk manager informs the nurse manager of an orthopedic unit that her unit has had an increase in incident reports related to patients falling during the 11-7 shift. The nurse manager knows that the first step in Quality Management is to:

Choice A reason: While supplies distribution is a logistical function, it does not necessarily reflect the concept of decentralization in the context of leader-follower relationships.

Choice B reason: Purchasing equipment from approved vendors is a procurement process and does not directly relate to the decentralization of decision-making in leader-follower dynamics.

Choice C reason: Decisions made at the executive level represent a centralized approach rather than decentralization, which involves distributing decision-making power.

Choice D reason: This is the correct answer because decentralization in the leader-follower relationship refers to the distribution of decision-making power to those who are directly involved in care delivery. This empowers staff and can lead to more effective and responsive caregiving.

Choice A reason: Immediate access to staffing schedules is a benefit for administrative purposes but is not directly related to the use of point-of-care devices for patient care.

Choice B reason: Immediate documentation of care is a key advantage of point-of-care devices, allowing for real-time recording of patient information, which can improve care quality and efficiency.

Choice C reason: Comparison of patient data with previous data is important for ongoing patient assessment but is not the primary rationale for the use of point-of-care devices.

Choice D reason: While point-of-care devices can potentially reduce medication errors, this choice is not as directly related to the immediate documentation of care as Choice B is.