Question

A charge nurse is preparing to administer 0900 medications and is told by the pharmacy staff that the medications are not available. Medication availability has been an ongoing problem, and the charge nurse has previously discussed this issue with the pharmacy staff. Which of the following actions should the charge nurse take first?

A) Administer medications from another unit's supply
B) Notify the nursing supervisor about the situation
C) Contact the pharmacy director to discuss the issue
D) Inform the nursing staff to inform the patients about the delay

Answer 1

The charge nurse should notify the nursing supervisor if medications are not available.

Step-by-step explanation:

The charge nurse should first notify the nursing supervisor about the situation. This step is important because the nursing supervisor has the authority and responsibility to address issues related to medication availability, as well as oversee the overall functioning of the nursing department. The supervisor can then take appropriate action to resolve the problem, such as contacting the pharmacy staff and the pharmacy director.

Option A, administering medications from another unit's supply, may not be feasible or allowed, as medications should be properly authorized and documented for each patient and each unit. Option C, contacting the pharmacy director, can be a good step to discuss the ongoing issue and seek a long-term solution, but it may not provide an immediate resolution. Option D, informing the nursing staff to inform the patients about the delay, is a good step to manage patient expectations, but it does not address the root cause of the problem.