The busy emergency department at a hospital has experienced a sharp increase in negative outcomes among clients with heart conditions in the past month, Which of the following actions should the nursing staff take to improve client outcomes?

Rationale: A. Increasing the workload of high-risk tasks for RNs is unsafe and counterproductive. Overloading RNs can lead to burnout, errors, and further negative outcomes, particularly in high-acuity areas like cardiac care. This approach would likely worsen client outcomes rather than improve them. B. Collaboration is essential for safe, effective care, especially in high-stress environments such as the emergency department. Reducing collaboration would fragment care, increase miscommunication, and elevate the risk of errors. This option is inappropriate. C. While reducing unnecessary low-risk tasks may free some time, the focus should be on optimizing task allocation and delegation rather than simply decreasing low-risk tasks. Alone, this action would not significantly impact outcomes for high-risk clients. D. Effective delegation ensures that tasks are appropriately assigned based on the nurse’s licensure, skill level, and competency. Delegating routine or low-risk tasks to LPNs or support staff allows RNs to focus on high-acuity, high-risk clients, such as those with heart conditions. This approach improves workflow efficiency, reduces errors, and enhances patient outcomes. This statement reflects understanding of safe delegation practices and interprofessional collaboration.