Question

The nurse aide is making an empty bed and notices that the side rail is broken. The nurse aide SHOULD:

(A) wait for the next safety check to report the broken side rail.
(B) report the broken side rail immediately.
(C) tie the side rail in the raised position until it is fixed.
(D) warn the client to be careful when getting back into bed.

Answer 1

The nurse aide should immediately report a broken side rail to ensure patient safety and prevent potential injuries.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse aide notices a broken side rail on an empty bed, the correct action to take is to report the broken side rail immediately. Ensuring patient safety is paramount, and a damaged side rail can pose a significant fall risk to patients. Waiting for a safety check or attempting a temporary fix such as tying the rail could lead to injury. It's also not sufficient to simply warn the client, as this does not address the underlying safety hazard.