Question

Juliana, an RN, is caring for Mary Lewis, 80 years old. Ms. Lewis falls and injures herself. Which of the following actions should Juliana take to decrease her liability?

Option 1: Document the incident thoroughly.
Option 2: Administer medication without delay.
Option 3: Ignore the incident and continue with other tasks.
Option 4: Leave the scene and inform a colleague.

Answer 1

Juliana should document the incident thoroughly to decrease her liability in case of a patient fall, as proper documentation is key in legal defense by showing adherence to the standard of care.

Step-by-step explanation:

When caring for an elderly patient who falls and injures herself, such as Ms. Lewis, Juliana the RN should choose Option 1: Document the incident thoroughly. This action involves creating an accurate record of the events surrounding the fall, the patient's condition before and after the fall, any interventions performed, and the notification of the healthcare team. Proper documentation serves as a crucial legal record and can significantly decrease Juliana's liability by demonstrating that she followed the appropriate standard of care. While administering medication may be part of the care plan post-fall, it is imperative to first assess the patient's condition and obtain a physician's order before doing so, thus Option 2 is not the immediate step to decrease liability. Option 3, ignoring the incident, would greatly increase Juliana's liability, and Option 4, leaving the scene to inform a colleague, while failing to attend to the patient, is not the correct procedure for managing such incidents according to established nursing protocols.