A practical nurse (PN) who works on a 16-bed wing of an extended care facility with an additional PN and an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) is told that the other PN will not be in because of illness. The facility manager agrees to obtain another UAP for the day. Which action should the PN take?

A. Inform the manager that the facility will have to assume responsibility for incidents related to staffing: This is confrontational and does not address immediate care needs. B. Refuse to take charge and go home rather than risk working in an unsafe situation: Abandoning patients is unethical and could have legal consequences. C. Assign some tasks usually performed by the additional PN to the UAP who is normally on the wing: UAPs cannot legally take on PN duties; this is unsafe. D. Prioritize assessment of safety issues in addition to administration of daily medication: When short-staffed, prioritize safety and essential tasks to ensure client well-being.