Expert Analysis

The supervisor, Brenda, and the nurse, Ellen, discussed filing an incident report, and Brenda then tells Ellen to make a note in the patient chart. I'd emphasize that an incident form must be completed so that it will be documented in the staff safety statistics and available for discussion by the health and safety committee. This is important for the nurse's own protection and to assist the organization in preventing future incidents. Also, other staff should be informed directly of any potential for violence.

Further, following the incident with Rita's husband and his statement that he will return in the afternoon, the supervisor should have informed hospital security of the incident and put them on notice of his planned return, even if security may not need to intervene. This incident could have gone awry, even though the supervisor approached him in a non-confrontational manner.

Finally, even though not mixing your personal and professional life is a good rule of thumb, many personal issues may be very relevant to one's work, such as childcare issues or domestic violence. Therefore, while it is prudent to not share information that a supervisor does not need to know, or to put the supervisor in a therapeutic role, there may be circumstances where it is important and/or beneficial to you for your supervisor to know what is going on in your personal life.