The chain of command is the line of authority that a nurse must follow. If a registered nurse on the neonatal unit is presented with a situation that requires authorization. She must first speak with the charge nurse for assistance. If this fails, she must then look to the department director of nursing for the neonatal unit. Then, she must contact the Chief Nursing Officer or the Chief Executive Officer, depending on the nature of the issue. Finally, she must always remember to document the situation at hand and document the communication that was had. This is how a registered nurse on the neonatal unit appropriately uses the chain of command.