Question

The nurse is found to be guilty of charting blood glucose results without actually performing the procedure. After talking to the nurse, the charge nurse should: A. Call the Board of Nursing B. File a formal reprimand C. Terminate the nurse D. Charge the nurse with a tort

Short answer

Answer: The most appropriate course of action for the charge nurse is to A. Call the Board of Nursing for an investigation and possible disciplinary actions.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the consequences of each option

We have four options: (A) Call the Board of Nursing, (B) File a formal reprimand, (C) Terminate the nurse, and (D) Charge the nurse with a tort. Let's look at the consequences of each option. A. Calling the Board of Nursing can result in an investigation and possible disciplinary actions against the nurse, which might include losing the nursing license or getting a suspension. B. Filing a formal reprimand means documenting the incident and giving a written warning to the nurse about their misconduct. This reprimand will be part of the nurse's personnel file and possibly affect the nurse's future performance evaluations and promotions. C. Terminating the nurse means losing the job and possibly facing difficulty in finding new employment because of the reason for termination. D. Charging the nurse with a tort means accusing the nurse of civil wrongdoing, which could lead to a lawsuit and financial liability.

Evaluate the severity of the issue

Charting blood glucose results without performing the procedure is a serious violation of nursing practice. It puts patients at risk and undermines the trust and integrity of the nurse, as well as the profession.

Determine which option is most appropriate

Considering the severity of the issue and the potential consequences, it is most appropriate for the charge nurse to: A. Call the Board of Nursing, so that they can investigate and determine the appropriate disciplinary actions to be taken against the nurse. This is for the sake of patient safety and to maintain the integrity of the profession. Option B, filing a formal reprimand, may not be enough considering the severity of the nurse's actions. Option C, termination, could be considered after the Board of Nursing has investigated the situation. Option D, charging the nurse with a tort, should be left to the patient who may have suffered from the nurse's misconduct or the hospital itself. The correct answer is A. Call the Board of Nursing.