Question

A nurse manager sent home a nurse who is chemically impaired. Which of the following action should the nurse manager take?

A) Immediately terminate the chemically impaired nurse's employment.
B) Report the incident to the nursing board and follow the organization's policy for addressing impaired nurses.
C) Ignore the situation and give the nurse a second chance without any intervention.
D) Share the information with other staff members to create awareness about the chemically impaired nurse.

Answer 1

The nurse manager should report the incident to the nursing board and follow the organization's policy for addressing impaired nurses. Terminating the nurse immediately may not address the underlying issue of addiction. Sharing the information with other staff members is not the appropriate course of action.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse manager should report the incident to the nursing board and follow the organization's policy for addressing impaired nurses. This action ensures that the appropriate authorities are notified and that the situation is handled according to established protocols. Terminating the chemically impaired nurse's employment immediately may not address the underlying issue of addiction and may prevent the nurse from seeking help and rehabilitation.

Sharing the information with other staff members is not the appropriate course of action as it violates the nurse's privacy and could lead to a hostile work environment. Instead, confidentiality should be maintained, and only those who need to know should be informed to ensure patient safety.