Question

The nurse manager verbally and in writing requested that the maintenance department repair a broken electrical receptacle three times in the last 2 weeks. It has not been repaired and there has been no explanation from the maintenance manager and she does not return calls. This receptacle was frequently used and not being able to use it causes extra work for the staff. The nurse manager's best course of action at this point should be to:

A) schedule an appointment with the maintenance director to discuss the situation.
B) submit another request and explain how important it is to have this repair completed.
C) report the maintenance department's unresponsiveness to his or her nursing supervisor.
D) tell the staff that he or she is working on getting the receptacle repaired as soon as possible.

Answer 1

The best course of action for the nurse manager is to escalate the issue by reporting the maintenance department's unresponsiveness to the nursing supervisor to ensure a safe and efficient workplace.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse manager has already tried multiple times to get the broken electrical receptacle fixed through the proper channels. Given the lack of response and the increased workload it causes for the staff, the most appropriate next step would be to escalate the issue by reporting the unresponsiveness of the maintenance department to his or her nursing supervisor. This is because the supervisor has the authority and responsibility to ensure that the nursing environment is safe and efficient, and they may have more leverage over the maintenance department. Additionally, maintaining a safe environment is a crucial part of the everyday process in healthcare settings, and a faulty electrical outlet could pose safety risks. Option C is, therefore, the best course of action to take at this point.