A charge nurse is concerned about a recent increase in facility-acquired catheter infections. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Rationale: A. Identify possible precipitating factors related to the infections: The first step in addressing a quality or safety concern is to assess the situation and collect data. Identifying contributing factors helps guide appropriate interventions and ensures that any subsequent actions are targeted and evidence-based. B. Meet with providers to discuss measures to decrease the infections: Collaborating with providers is essential for implementing effective solutions, but this step should follow a thorough assessment. Without identifying root causes first, discussions may be unfocused or ineffective in reducing infection rates. C. Schedule nursing staff training for infection control procedures: Training is a critical part of reducing catheter-associated infections, especially if staff knowledge gaps are discovered. However, education should be informed by a needs assessment and data on what factors are contributing to the infections. D. Revise the current policy for catheter care: Policy revision may be necessary if current guidelines are outdated or inadequate. However, revising policy prematurely, without understanding the source of the problem, may lead to unnecessary or ineffective changes.