A staff nurse reports an observation of a coworker injecting themselves with a syringe in the bathroom. The coworker admits to stealing narcotics from the medication room. The staff nurse should take which of the following courses of action?

Rationale:A. Reporting the incident to other RNs on the shift does not ensure that the appropriate actions will be taken to address the issue.B. Agreeing not to report the incident in exchange for the coworker seeking treatment is unethical and does not follow the correct reporting protocol.C. Reporting the incident to the appropriate person in the chain of communication, such as a supervisor or nurse manager, is the correct course of action. This ensures that the situation is handled according to hospital policy and legal requirements, protecting patient safety and addressing the coworker's substance use disorder.D. Agreeing not to report the incident if the coworker promises to report themselves is also unethical and fails to meet professional responsibilities.