<SYSTEM_TASK:>
Solve the following problem using Python, implementing the functions described below, one line at a time
<END_TASK>
<USER_TASK:>
Description:
 def _get_action(self, action):
 """ Utility function that consolidates actions if necessary. """

        return_action = action
        if self.partial_update_is_update and action == 'partial_update':
            return_action = 'update'
        return return_action