Final answer:
The newly licensed nurse should first advise the nurses to stop their inappropriate conversation and, if necessary, report the incident to the nurse manager or submit an occurrence report. The correct option is B.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first action that the newly licensed nurse should implement upon overhearing two nurses talking about a patient's potential harm due to staff negligence is to advise them to cease their communication. This step is crucial because it directly addresses the breach of confidentiality and inappropriate discussion taking place. It's also important to ensure that patient information is handled with the required professionalism and privacy. Should the behavior persist or if the concern regarding negligence is serious, the nurse should then escalate the issue by taking further steps, which may include informing the nurse manager (C. Inform the nurse manager of the conversation) or even submitting an occurrence report (D. Submit an occurrence or variance report) if warranted.
The most appropriate action for the newly licensed nurse to implement first would be to inform the nurse manager of the conversation. This is because the nurse manager has the authority to investigate and address the issue of negligence. The nurse should provide a detailed report of what was overheard and any relevant information about the staff involved. Monitoring the nurses closely for further occurrences can be done after reporting the incident to the nurse manager. Advising the nurses to cease their communication may not be enough to address the potential negligence. Submitting an occurrence or variance report can be done after the nurse manager has been informed and further action has been taken.