Anurse in charge in the surgical intensive care unit notes that a number of clients do not seem to be responding to morphine that was administered for pain. later in the evening the nurse finds a staff nurse dozing in the nurses' lounge. when awakened, the staff nurse appears uncoordinated and drugged, with slurred speech. what should the nurse in charge do?

After knowing tell the nurse manager to be there before confronting the staff nurse. It is the responsibility of the charge nurse and/or staffing office to make sure there is a nurse to cover your patients at the end of your shift. Although they could ask you, you still can say no. Most states have laws or at the very least hospitals have policies which prohibit nurses from working mandatory overtime due to staffing issues.