Only one nurse was scheduled to care for 12 postsurgical patients with a nursing assistant. The ...

A
If a nurse is assigned to care for more patients than is reasonable for safe care, he or she should notify the nursing supervisor. If the nurse is required to accept the assignment, he or she must document this information in writing and provide the document to nursing administrators. Al-though documentation does not relieve a nurse of responsibility if patients suffer harm because of inattention, it shows that the nurse attempted to act appropriately. Refusing to care for the pa-tients without appropriate help and leaving could be regarded as abandonment. Complaining to the administrator is not the first step, nor is calling the Board of Nursing.