The nurse manager received the following email from the director of nu

QUESTION

The nurse manager received the following email from the director of nursing:

TO: Nurse Manager, RN
FROM: Director of Nursing, RN
DATE: Month, Day, Year
SUBJECT: Staff Behavior
Hi Janie,
Yesterday when I was leaving work I saw two of your unlicensed assistive personnel sitting outside on the wall having a cigarette. As you know our organization has a ‘No Smoking on Campus’ policy. I expect that you will handle discussing this with your staff.
Thanks!
Marie
How should the manager handle the message conveyed in this email?
1. Forward the staff the director’s email
2. Print the email and give it to the staff
3. Reprimand the staff for violating hospital policy
4. Respond in email, asking why the director didn’t counsel the staff

ANSWER:

Correct Answer: 3

The staff violated hospital policy and should be reprimanded, however it should be done verbally and not through printing the email or forwarding the email. Emails are not private and this discussion is between the nurse manager and the staff. Asking why the director didn’t counsel the staff could be insubordination, or the director was not in the position to effectively counsel the staff.