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The unit clerk is incorrect because an electronic health record (EHR) password is confidential and linked to the individual nurse’s identity. Allowing a unit clerk to use the nurse’s login would constitute unauthorized access to protected health information (PHI). This violates HIPAA regulations, compromises the accuracy of audit trails, and prevents the facility from identifying who performed specific chart entries or data retrieval. Unit clerks who are allowed to access records must be issued their own usernames and passwords.

A nursing student completing a preceptorship on the unit is incorrect because students must be granted their own temporary, restricted EHR access if allowed by the facility. Sharing a nurse’s password with a student is a direct violation of confidentiality standards. It also risks improper documentation or access to information beyond the student’s scope of involvement. The facility must maintain clear tracking of who enters or alters data, which is impossible when credentials are shared.

The nurse manager is incorrect because having a higher-level position does not justify using another nurse’s credentials. Managers have their own passwords with access permissions appropriate to their role. Sharing passwords, even with supervisors, violates HIPAA, breaks institutional policy, and may result in disciplinary action, termination, or legal consequences. Each user must log in under their own identity to maintain accurate accountability and ensure data security.

Confront the coworker in front of other staff members is incorrect because doing so may escalate the situation, cause embarrassment, and is not the nurse’s role. Public confrontation can create a hostile work environment and violates professional conduct standards. Additionally, the coworker may deny impairment or become defensive, preventing appropriate intervention.

Approach the coworker directly and ask if they are under the influence is incorrect because confronting a potentially impaired individual alone can be unsafe and unproductive. It also bypasses institutional policies and may place the reporting nurse at risk of retaliation or conflict. Only supervisors or designated personnel should perform an evaluation of possible impairment.

Ignore the situation and continue with work is incorrect because failure to act places patients at immediate risk. Ignoring the issue violates professional responsibility and mandatory reporting laws in many jurisdictions. It enables unsafe practice, jeopardizes patient safety, and can result in consequences for the nurse who failed to report.

A client with pneumonia and WBC count of 11,500/mm³ prescribed piperacillin is incorrect as the client’s elevated WBC indicates infection, but this is not immediately life-threatening. Administering antibiotics is important, but it is not the highest priority compared to a client at risk for a life-threatening electrolyte imbalance.

A client with anemia, hemoglobin of 11 g/dL prescribed epoetin alfa is incorrect because a hemoglobin of 11 g/dL is mildly low but not critical. Epoetin alfa administration is important for managing anemia, but the client’s condition is stable and does not require immediate intervention.

A client post-CABG with total cholesterol of 318 mg/dL prescribed atorvastatin is incorrect because elevated cholesterol is a chronic risk factor, not an acute life-threatening problem. Statin therapy is important for long-term cardiovascular management but is not the priority in immediate medication administration.

Delay discussing the medication changes until the client experiences worsening symptoms is incorrect because waiting could cause unnecessary suffering. Beneficence requires the nurse to actively promote the client’s well-being, not postpone interventions that could improve their health and comfort.

Respect the client’s decision not to change medications without further discussion is incorrect in this context because while respecting autonomy is important, beneficence focuses on promoting the client’s health. The nurse should provide information and guidance rather than simply accepting a decision that may result in continued pain or ineffective treatment.

Administer the current medication as ordered without discussing alternatives is incorrect because it ignores the client’s expressed concerns and may not optimize their well-being. Beneficence requires proactive measures to enhance health outcomes, including evaluating the effectiveness of current therapy and discussing safer or more effective options.

Offering a pamphlet regarding advance directives to a newly admitted client is incorrect because providing education about advance directives involves assessing the client’s understanding and answering questions, which are nursing responsibilities that require professional judgment.

Asking a client whether pain was relieved after administration of acetaminophen is incorrect because evaluating the effectiveness of medication involves assessment and clinical judgment, which cannot be delegated to assistive personnel.

Demonstrating use of a walker for a client who is ready for discharge is incorrect because teaching a client how to use assistive devices safely requires assessment and evaluation of the client’s ability to perform the activity, which is within the scope of the nurse, not the AP.

The nurse has a disagreement with the nursing supervisor about inadequate staffing is incorrect because interpersonal disagreements or staffing concerns are handled through management or human resources channels, not incident reports. These situations do not constitute reportable client safety events.

The nurse identifies a broken piece of equipment is incorrect because simply discovering broken equipment does not constitute an incident unless it directly caused or could have caused harm to a client. The equipment should be reported through maintenance procedures rather than an incident report unless it resulted in injury.

A staff member does not show up to work her assigned shift is incorrect because this is an administrative or staffing issue. While it affects workflow, it does not meet the criteria for an incident report, which focuses on unexpected events affecting client safety or property.

"Delegation promotes discharge teaching activities for clients" is incorrect because discharge teaching is a complex nursing intervention that requires assessment of the client’s learning needs, evaluation of understanding, and professional judgment to ensure safety and comprehension. Delegation cannot replace these nursing responsibilities, as assistive personnel (AP) are not trained to perform independent teaching or evaluate learning outcomes.

"Delegation provides appropriate resources for the client" is incorrect because while delegation can support care delivery, its primary function is not merely to supply resources. Delegation involves assigning a specific, appropriate task to a competent individual while the nurse maintains accountability for the overall care and outcome. Simply “providing resources” does not capture the essence of delegation or its role in client care management.

"Delegation decreases health care costs" is incorrect because although delegation may improve workflow efficiency and indirectly reduce costs, cost-saving is not the primary goal. The primary purpose of delegation is to optimize patient care by assigning tasks appropriately based on scope of practice, competence, and patient needs, while the nurse maintains accountability. Cost considerations are secondary and should never drive unsafe or inappropriate delegation practices.