What should the nursing supervisor do in response to a UAP who is speaking harshly to a confused resident?

In this scenario, the most appropriate action for the nursing supervisor is to instruct the UAP to leave the dining room area immediately. This response is justified because the immediate safety and dignity of the confused resident must be prioritized. When a staff member is speaking harshly to a vulnerable resident, it can negatively affect the resident's emotional well-being and contribute to a stressful or unsafe environment.

Removing the UAP from the immediate situation not only protects the resident but also sends a clear message that such behavior is unacceptable. It allows time for the emotional environment to stabilize and gives the supervisor the opportunity to address the UAP's behavior in a separate setting, ensuring that it is managed appropriately without further disturbing the resident.

Other potential actions, while they may seem appropriate at first glance, do not provide the immediate support needed for the resident in that moment. For example, consulting the primary RN or advising them to counsel the UAP may delay addressing the harmful situation. Similarly, demonstrating the correct approach is a useful educational technique, but it does not address the ongoing distress caused to the resident by the UAP’s current behavior. Hence, ensuring the resident's protection by instructing the UAP to leave is the most effective and immediate response.