The unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) tells the practical nurse (PN) that a male client is angry because the night shift took over 2 hours to bring him the pain medication, he had to request three times.
Which action should the PN implement first?
A.
Ask the client to describe what happened
B.
Inform the charge nurse of the situation
C.
Complete a client adverse incident report
D.
Call the agency-based client advocate
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is A. Ask the client to describe what happened.
Explanation:
When the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) informs the practical nurse (PN) about the client’s complaint regarding a delay in receiving pain medication, the PN must first gather more information directly from the client before taking further action. Asking the client to describe what happened allows the PN to assess the situation more accurately and understand the client’s perspective. This approach is part of therapeutic communication, which promotes a trusting nurse-client relationship and helps the nurse get a clearer picture of the issue at hand.
By allowing the client to explain the situation, the PN can also assess the client’s emotional and physical state, which is important for providing appropriate care. Pain management is a priority, and understanding the delay’s impact on the client’s comfort is essential. Additionally, this action demonstrates that the nurse values the client’s concerns and is taking them seriously, which can help de-escalate any anger or frustration.
B. Inform the charge nurse of the situation may seem like a reasonable step, but it should come after gathering more information. The charge nurse will likely need details about the incident, which the PN cannot provide without first speaking with the client. Without a full understanding of the situation, reporting to the charge nurse would be premature.
C. Complete a client adverse incident report is not appropriate as the first action. An incident report should be completed if the situation indeed involves a delay in medication administration that resulted in harm or a near-miss. However, before completing this report, it is important to assess the situation thoroughly.
D. Call the agency-based client advocate might be an appropriate action later if the client wishes to file a formal complaint. However, it is not the first step. Engaging the client advocate before investigating the matter could escalate the situation unnecessarily.
In summary, the first and most appropriate step is to speak with the client, clarify what happened, and assess the situation before involving others or documenting the incident. This approach aligns with the principles of client-centered care and ensures that the nurse has the necessary information to take further action if needed.