Question

Chris Starr (RN, BSN, CEN), the charge nurse in a very busy Emergency Department, was exhausted at the end of a 12-hour shift. Sixty-six patients had been triaged, assessed, cared for, counseled, educated, admitted, transferred, and/or discharged. One patient died. Some of the nursing responsibilities/ behaviors carried out by Chris on this shift included the following:

• Took/gave shift report every 4 hours.
• Assigned staff to patient care responsibilities.
• Assigned staff to non-nursing responsibilities such as ordering supplies, room checks, and testing emergency equipment.
• Oriented two new medical students to department protocols and expectations.
• Requested assistance from the shift supervisor to obtain ICU beds for two critical patients.
• Called the children’s protective agency to request emergency placement for three abandoned children brought in by the police.
• Yelled over the phone at a newspaper reporter who insisted on obtaining details of a recent accident.
• Assisted a staff nurse to support very distressed family members whose older adult parent had just died.
• Talked to the coroner for 10 minutes by phone.
• Cared for four patients whose nurse left for a dinner break.
• Assisted three staff members who were restraining an out-of-control, intoxicated patient.
• Intervened between a staff nurse and a physician who disagreed about a patient care issue.
• Promised to talk privately to an angry unit secretary later in the shift if time allows.
• Gathered all staff together at 11 PM to thank them for their hard work and good care.

Question 2:

Identify three bases of power exhibited by Chris Starr during her shift, providing at least one specific example of each from the scenario above.

Base of Power	Example

Answer 1

The role of RN is mainly supervise the nursing staff and manage the staff for smooth work environment. The three bases of power are:

1. Assigned staff for patient care responsibilities,

Ex: As a RN, he or she very much thorough knowledge about who is suitable for that specific ward like ER, ICU, acute care and chronic care,

2. Assisted a staff nurse to support to handle distress family members of deceased

Ex: As a RN, explain the situation to family members regarding treatment and worsening of pt condition and reduse the distress of patient family members in politely,

3. Intervene between Staff nurse and physician about care plan

Ex: in case of any miscommunication among and nurse as a incharge solve the issue and discuss with doctor if it is appropriate change the care plan and their subordinate also follow same