A nurse is being asked to move from the eye unit to a general surgery

A nurse is being asked to move from the eye unit to a general surgery floor where she in inexpe-rienced in this specialty due to an influenza epidemic among the nursing staff. She is aware of her inexperience. The nurse’s initial recourse is to:

1. Fill out a report noting her dissatisfaction
2. Ask to work with another general surgery nurse
3. Notify the State Board of Nursing of the problem
4. Politely refuse to move, take a leave-of-absence day, and go home

ANSWER

ANS: 2
Nurses who float should inform the supervisor of any lack of experience in caring for the type of clients on the nursing unit. They should also request and be given orientation to the unit. Asking to work with another general surgery nurse would be an appropriate action. A nurse can make a written protest to nursing administrators, but it should not be the nurse’s initial recourse. Notify-ing the state board of nursing should not be the nurse’s initial recourse. The nurse should first no-tify the supervisor and request appropriate orientation and training. If problems continue, the nurse should attempt the usual chain of command within the institution before contacting the state board of nursing. A nurse who refuses to accept an assignment may be considered insubor-dinate, and clients will not benefit from having less staff available.