A nurse is providing a client with IV fluids and finds that the IV pump screen is malfunctioning. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Safe use of medical equipment is an essential part of nursing responsibility to prevent patient harm and ensure accurate treatment delivery. When equipment malfunctions, the priority is to remove the device from use to avoid medication errors, incorrect fluid administration, or electrical hazards. Faulty equipment should be identified, reported, and removed according to facility policy. This supports patient safety and prevents the same device from being used on another client before repair. Rationale: A. Discontinuing use and tagging the IV pump is the correct action because malfunctioning equipment poses a direct risk to patient safety. Tagging the pump alerts other staff that the device is unsafe and should not be used until inspected and repaired. This follows standard safety protocols for defective medical equipment and prevents further harm. B. Plugging the IV pump into a different outlet is inappropriate because the issue is described as a malfunctioning screen, not necessarily a power supply problem. Attempting to continue using potentially defective equipment may result in inaccurate infusion rates or treatment delays. Patient safety requires removing the device from service rather than troubleshooting at the bedside. C. Replacing the IV pump tubing does not address the problem because the malfunction involves the pump screen, not the tubing system. The issue is related to the equipment’s function and monitoring capability, which affects safe administration of IV fluids. Changing tubing would not correct a device malfunction. D. Clearing the settings and resetting the IV pump is unsafe because it assumes the problem is minor without proper technical evaluation. A malfunctioning screen may indicate deeper mechanical or electrical failure that could compromise infusion accuracy. The nurse should not attempt to repair the equipment but should remove it from use and report it appropriately.