A health professional colleague is suspected of having a substance abuse problem because of the person's frequent absenteeism,mood swings when at work,diminished alertness,and poor patient care.Which action(s)will the nurse take?(Select all that apply.)
A) Confront the individual.
B) Document specific examples of inappropriate actions.
C) Avoid assigning this individual to patients with narcotic medication orders or high acuities.
D) Notify law enforcement of the suspicions.
E) Submit a confidential report to an appropriate supervisor.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Observation and documentation are crucial to building a record of repeat instances over time to support the suspicion of impairment.Examples of inappropriate actions need to be well documented over time.An accurate record can also be useful in helping the impaired individual to recognize the problems and submit voluntarily to treatment.If a health professional suspects that a colleague is impaired,a confidential report should be made to an appropriate supervisor familiar with institutional policy.Confronting the individual,avoiding assigning this individual to patients with narcotic medication orders or high acuities,and notifying law enforcement of the suspicions are not appropriate actions to take.

A Health Professional Colleague Is Suspected of Having a Substance