A staff nurse is unable to resolve a concern reported by a client. To whom should the nurse report the concern?

The most appropriate action for the staff nurse in this situation is to report the concern to the charge nurse. The charge nurse functions as a frontline supervisor who is typically responsible for overseeing patient care and managing nursing staff on a particular shift. They are positioned to address immediate concerns and can facilitate resolution or escalate the issue as needed.

The charge nurse often has the experience and authority necessary to handle such concerns, either by resolving them directly or by involving other members of the healthcare team. This approach ensures a timely response to the issue while maintaining the patient’s safety and well-being.

In contrast, other roles such as the director of nursing or the chief nurse executive might not be directly involved with day-to-day patient care issues and are usually engaged in broader management and administrative tasks. The patient advocate, while valuable in representing the interests and concerns of patients, may not be the first point of contact for a nurse to resolve operational issues. Therefore, engaging the charge nurse allows for the most effective and immediate resolution process.