What is the impact of impaired practice on patient safety?

• A. Impaired practice can significantly interfere with patient safety.
• B. Impaired practice has no effect on patient safety.
• C. Impaired practice only affects the nurse's schedule.
• D. Impaired practice can significantly interfere with patient safety and should be addressed.

Answer: (D)

Impaired practice directly threatens patient safety because it can undermine a nurse’s judgment, attention, memory, and psychomotor skills needed for safe care. When impairment is present, the likelihood of errors—such as wrong medication administration, missed assessments, or delayed responses—rises, putting patients at real risk. Because of this, the appropriate response is to recognize the issue and address it promptly, following organizational policies to protect patients while offering support to the nurse (such as access to help and treatment programs). The best choice captures both the safety risk and the necessary action. The other options miss key aspects: some deny any effect on safety, while others suggest impairment only affects scheduling rather than patient care.