Question

You are assigned to a medical-surgical unit, working the night shift. Your supervisor calls and says that one of the RNs assigned to the critical care unit has called in sick and you must work that unit instead of your usual assignment. You have never worked in the critical care setting before and have received no orientation to this unit. You are now asked to work there when it is short of staff. What should you do?

Answer 1

First I will accept and explain to my supervisor that I do not aware of the critical care unit routines and not having prior experience in critical care unit, and I will request for quick orientation regarding how to activate emergency alerts in case of critical situation such as medical emergency, and location of fire alarm, emergency exit.

Second I will request for most stable patient which is about to get discharge/transfer from this Unit, so that need not be panic.