Acting on Questionable Practice RN Christine works in a large long-term care facility and is the nurse manager of unit 2 North. An RN colleague and unit 2 West manager, Sylvia, calls Christine and asks her to come to 2 West to help with a computer problem at the nurses' station. As Christine walks down the hall of Sylvia's unit, she hears a resident crying out very loudly. The cry sounds like an expression of pain. Christine enters the resident's room and notices the resident is tightly restrained to the bed and is lying in excrement. From a quick assessment, Christine believes the resident is alert and oriented. Though she has tried to convince herself otherwise, lately Christine has been thinking that Sylvia acts strongly paternalistic with her residents and that her manner is abrupt rather than compassionate. Christine has seen at least two residents begin to cry when Sylvia fusses at them.
QUESTIONS: 1) What should be Christine's first action and why? 2) Is this an ethical dilemma or an advocacy opportunity? Explain your response. 3) In your current or past practice, has there been a patient advocate available for staff, patients and families? 4) If so, please describe the patient advocate's role and how you utilized this person in an advocacy situation. If not, please state why you believe this role is important. Provide evidence to support to your response.
Sample Solution