Judy Jones, RN, has worked in the emergency department for several years. She is currently advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) certified, as are the other emergency care nurses. Hospital policy requires ACLS certification for employment in critical care areas. One of the areas covered in attaining this certification is that the individual is taught to intubate a patient. A new hospital policy expressly forbids the intubation of patients by nurses; only physicians may intubate patients. A crisis occurred in the emergency center one evening, and Judy Jones competently intubated a patient in full cardiac arrest. The patient was successfully resuscitated and has now been discharged.
1. As the nurse manager for the emergency department, what would you do about this specific incident?
2. How do you begin to prevent a reoccurrence of such an incident?
3. Could you seek assistance from others outside the hospital setting in resolving this issue?
4. Does the fact that the patient was successfully resuscitated alter your possible actions?
