Question

A nurse at an urgent care clinic notices that a pain assessment is not being performed for all clients as required by policy. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to ensure care is provided according to policy?

A) Document the omission in the clients' charts and inform the charge nurse.

B) Report this issue to the nurse manager.

C) Continue with other aspects of care, as pain assessments are not critical in urgent care settings.

D) Discuss the issue with colleagues during a break without formally reporting it.

Answer 1

The nurse should document the omission in the client's charts and inform the charge nurse to ensure corrections can be made, and if necessary, escalate the issue to the nurse manager to align with care policies.

Step-by-step explanation:

Upon noticing that care protocols are not being followed, with pain assessments being omitted contrary to policy, the appropriate action for the nurse to take is to document the omission in the clients' charts and inform the charge nurse (Option A). This ensures that there is a record of the oversight, and that the person in charge is aware of it, so corrective measures can be taken. However, if the nurse feels that the issue is systematic or is not being addressed adequately, she should escalate the matter by reporting this issue to the nurse manager (Option B). The nurse should recognize that pain assessments are a critical part of client care in all settings, including urgent care, contrary to Option C. Simply discussing the matter with colleagues in an informal setting (Option D) might provide temporary solace but is not an effective means of rectifying the issue and ensuring compliance with policy and quality care.