Question

The nurse observes the nursing assistant looking through the belongings of the geriatric client. Which action is most appropriate at this time? A. Call the social worker so that she can investigate the matter B. Question the nursing assistant regarding the matter C. Report the matter to the physician D. Chart the observation in the client's medical record

Short answer

Answer: The most appropriate action is to question the nursing assistant regarding the matter.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the context of the question

In this scenario, a nurse observes a nursing assistant looking through the belongings of a geriatric client. This is a concerning and potentially unprofessional behavior that may involve the breach of a patient's privacy and/or personal property.

Analyze option A

Option A suggests that the nurse should call the social worker to investigate the matter. Although involving a social worker may be helpful later, this action is not the most appropriate at this time. The nurse should first address the issue directly with the nursing assistant before involving other staff members.

Analyze option B

Option B suggests that the nurse should question the nursing assistant regarding the matter. This is the most appropriate action to take at this time because it allows the nurse to directly address the concerning situation, gather information, and clarify the nursing assistant's intent. Proper communication between healthcare workers is vital in understanding and addressing problematic situations promptly.

Analyze option C

Option C suggests that the nurse should report the matter to the physician. Physicians are not directly responsible for addressing the professional behavior of nursing staff. This action may be necessary only after discussing the situation with the nursing assistant and reporting it to the appropriate nursing supervisors or management if the issue persists or is deemed serious.

Analyze option D

Option D suggests that the nurse should chart the observation in the client's medical record. The medical record is not the appropriate place to document this type of incident. If the nurse deems it necessary to document the incident, it should be reported through the proper internal incident reporting system and not in the client's medical record.

Choose the correct answer

After analyzing all options, the most appropriate action at this time is Option B: Question the nursing assistant regarding the matter. This option allows the nurse to address the situation directly, gather information, and ultimately determine the best course of action.