A nurse observes a colleague who appears drowsy and has dilated pupils during their shift. The colleague is assigned to administer medications to multiple patients. What action should the nurse take first?
Notify the charge nurse about the colleague's behavior.
Confront the colleague directly and ask if they need help.
Monitor the colleague's behavior throughout the shift before deciding how to act.
Wait until the end of the shift to discuss the observations with the colleague in private.
The correct answer emphasizes the importance of taking immediate action to prevent harm to patients while addressing the unsafe practice. Reporting to the charge nurse allows for an appropriate assessment of the colleague’s fitness to work and ensures timely intervention to ensure patient safety. Speaking directly to the colleague is not advisable because this could delay action and might not ensure patient safety. Ignoring the behavior or attempting to address it at the end of the shift compromises the safety of current patients and violates professional responsibility.
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