Construction is occurring in the Emergency Department, with equipment and sharp items being used by the contractors. As the charge nurse, you are concerned that agitated patients might use the equipment as weapons and you meet with staff to: (EXCEPT)
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because asking construction workers to be responsible for the equipment and sharp items used is not within the charge nurse's role or authority. The responsibility for ensuring safety and security in the Emergency Department lies with the healthcare staff (including the charge nurse) and security personnel. Construction workers may not have the training or expertise to handle agitated patients or prevent potential incidents.
A: Notifying the nursing supervisor (A) can help escalate the issue and involve higher authority in addressing the safety concern.
B: Notifying security (B) is essential to ensure that trained professionals are present to handle security-related issues.
C: Having staff check patients (C) is important to verify their safety, but it does not address the primary concern of preventing patients from accessing construction equipment as weapons.