CELBAN Responding to Healthcare Issues 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient's family member insists that the nurse is providing incorrect medication. What is the most appropriate initial response?
- Ignore the concern and continue with the medication
- Acknowledge the concern, pause the administration, and verify the order (Correct answer)
- Ask the family member to leave the room
- Report the family member to the charge nurse immediately
Correct answer: Acknowledge the concern, pause the administration, and verify the order
Patient and family concerns about medication should always be taken seriously; pausing to verify ensures safety.
Question 2: During a busy shift, a nurse notices a colleague appears to be under the influence of alcohol. What should the nurse do first?
- Say nothing to avoid conflict
- Immediately remove the colleague from patient care and report to the supervisor (Correct answer)
- Ask patients if they have noticed anything unusual
- Wait until the end of the shift to report
Correct answer: Immediately remove the colleague from patient care and report to the supervisor
An impaired colleague poses an immediate risk to patients and must be removed from care and reported promptly.
Question 3: A patient refuses to take a prescribed medication. Which response best reflects the nurse's role?
- Document the refusal and notify the physician (Correct answer)
- Crush the medication into the patient's food without telling them
- Insist the patient take the medication
- Call the patient's family to force compliance
Correct answer: Document the refusal and notify the physician
Patients have the right to refuse treatment; the nurse must document the refusal and inform the prescribing physician.
Question 4: A nurse discovers a medication error made by a previous nurse. What is the priority action?
- Cover up the error to protect the colleague
- Assess the patient immediately, notify the physician, and complete an incident report (Correct answer)
- Wait to see if the patient develops symptoms before reporting
- Only document it in the nurse's notes
Correct answer: Assess the patient immediately, notify the physician, and complete an incident report
Immediate patient assessment and transparent reporting are essential steps following the discovery of a medication error.
Question 5: An elderly patient with dementia repeatedly pulls out their IV line. What is the most appropriate nursing response?
- Physically restrain the patient without a physician order
- Discuss with the care team and explore alternatives such as mittens or distraction techniques before considering restraints (Correct answer)
- Ignore the behavior as it is expected with dementia
- Discharge the patient's IV and discontinue treatment
Correct answer: Discuss with the care team and explore alternatives such as mittens or distraction techniques before considering restraints
Least-restrictive interventions must be explored with the interdisciplinary team before any form of restraint is applied.
Question 6: A post-operative patient complains of worsening pain that is not relieved by the prescribed analgesic. What should the nurse do?
- Tell the patient the pain will pass on its own
- Reassess the pain, contact the physician to report the findings, and request a medication review (Correct answer)
- Administer a higher dose than prescribed
- Document the complaint and take no further action
Correct answer: Reassess the pain, contact the physician to report the findings, and request a medication review
Unrelieved post-operative pain requires reassessment and prompt communication with the physician for an adjusted pain management plan.
Question 7: During a handover, the incoming nurse realizes critical information about a patient's allergy was omitted. What is the best course of action?
- Proceed with care assuming the allergy is not relevant
- Immediately flag the omission, update the patient's records, and inform the care team (Correct answer)
- Wait for the next scheduled chart review
- Only mention it if the patient brings it up
Correct answer: Immediately flag the omission, update the patient's records, and inform the care team
Missing allergy information is a patient safety risk that must be corrected immediately and communicated to the team.
CELBAN Responding to Healthcare Issues 2
A patient's family member insists that the nurse is providing incorrect medication.
What is the most appropriate initial response?