What is an appropriate action when dealing with a disgruntled family member?

• A. Escort the family member off the unit
• B. Ignore the issue
• C. Delay addressing the concern
• D. Resign and transfer the patient

Answer: (A)

Maintaining safety and de-escalation in the care environment is the priority when a family member becomes disruptive. The best action is to calmly request that the family member step out of the patient area and, if needed, escort them off the unit. This boundary-setting reduces the risk of interruptions to care and helps keep the environment calm for the patient and the healthcare team. While doing this, acknowledge their concern and offer to discuss it later in a private setting with the appropriate staff (such as the charge nurse or physician). If they refuse to leave or become threatening, follow hospital policy and involve security. After the situation is safe, document what happened and arrange a follow-up discussion to address the concern. Ignoring, delaying, or resigning and transferring the patient do not promptly restore safety or address the disruption and can compromise care and safety.