What practice should the nurse avoid when working in a high-stress environment, such as an emergency room during a MCI?

In high-stress environments like an emergency room during a mass casualty incident (MCI), it's crucial for nurses to adhere strictly to their scope of practice. Working beyond this scope can jeopardize patient safety, lead to legal repercussions, and diminish the overall effectiveness of the healthcare team. Each healthcare professional has defined competencies and responsibilities, and exceeding these not only places the nurse at risk but can also create chaos in an already tense setting. This adherence to scope allows for clarity in roles and fosters teamwork, ensuring that each patient receives the most appropriate care from qualified individuals.

The other practices, such as prioritizing patient care, maintaining personal composure, and collaborating with team members, are integral to effective management during emergencies. Prioritizing ensures that the most critical patients receive immediate attention, maintaining composure supports decision-making and reduces additional stress, while collaboration is essential to synchronize the efforts of the healthcare team, improving outcomes for all patients involved in such scenarios.