Which entity is NOT listed as a proper outlet for reporting suspected violations by a nurse?

• A. Supervisor
• B. Risk management
• C. Board complaint process
• D. The patient’s family

Answer: (D)

When concerns about nurse practice arise, formal pathways exist to ensure issues are investigated properly. The recognized internal routes within a healthcare setting are the supervisor, who oversees performance and safety; risk management, which handles incident reports and coordinates investigations; and the board complaint process, the official channel to the state nursing board for licensure-related concerns. The patient’s family, while they may notice problems and can request action, is not a formal outlet within the institution’s reporting framework. They don’t have a designated mechanism to document and pursue professional discipline through the organization, making them not a proper internal outlet. If concerns are raised, the best course is to go through the supervisor or risk management, or, for licensure or regulatory issues, through the board complaint process.