Question

A staff nurse detects alcohol on the breath of another nurse working on the unit. The staff nurse observes that the nurses speech is slurred and their gate is unsteady. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A) Share the observation with other colleagues for their input.
B) Confront the colleague directly about the suspected alcohol use.
C) Report the findings to the facility's human resources department.
D) Keep the observation confidential to avoid causing distress.

Answer 1

The staff nurse should report the findings to the facility's human resources department. Sharing the observation with colleagues, confronting the colleague directly, or keeping it confidential should be avoided.

Step-by-step explanation:

The staff nurse should take action by reporting the findings to the facility's human resources department (Option C). Suspected alcohol use by a nurse on duty is a serious concern as it can compromise patient safety and the overall functioning of the unit. By reporting the observations to the human resources department, appropriate steps can be taken to address the issue and ensure patient safety is not compromised.

Sharing the observation with other colleagues for their input (Option A) may not be the best course of action as it delays official intervention and may result in speculation or unnecessary gossip. Confronting the colleague directly about the suspected alcohol use (Option B) can also be risky, as it may escalate the situation and cause further distress.

Keeping the observation confidential to avoid causing distress (Option D) is not the appropriate action in this case, as patient safety should be prioritized and addressing alcohol use concerns is necessary to ensure a safe working environment.