The staff nurse, who is collecting evidence on ventilator-associated pneumonia to revise the hospital's policy and procedure for ventilator care, is acting in the role of an educator (option 3).
In this scenario, the nurse is gathering information and evidence about ventilator-associated pneumonia, which will be used to update the hospital's policy and procedure for caring for clients on ventilators. By conducting research and collecting evidence, the nurse is preparing to educate and inform the hospital staff about best practices for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia.
While the nurse may also have administrative responsibilities, such as implementing the revised policy and procedure, the primary focus in this scenario is on collecting evidence and using it to educate others.
The nurse is not acting as a researcher (option 1) in the traditional sense, as the goal is not to contribute new knowledge to the field but rather to gather existing evidence for the purpose of updating hospital protocols.
Similarly, the nurse is not primarily acting as an administrator (option 2), whose role is typically focused on managing resources and overseeing operations. While the nurse may have administrative duties related to implementing the revised policy, the main focus is on educating and informing others.
Finally, the nurse is not acting as an advocate (option 4), whose role involves supporting and speaking up for the rights and needs of patients. While the nurse's actions may ultimately benefit patients by improving the quality of care and reducing the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia, the immediate focus is on updating the hospital's policy and procedure through education and evidence-based practices.
Therefore, the most appropriate role for the staff nurse in this scenario is an educator (option 3).