A charge nurse is teaching a group of nurses about the purpose of a living will. Which of the following information about living wills should the charge nurse include in the teaching?

Choice A reason: This is not the correct choice because the Good Samaritan Act is a law that protects health care providers and other individuals from legal liability when they provide emergency care to someone who is injured or ill outside of a health care facility. The act does not apply to the staff in the emergency department, who are expected to follow the standards of care and obtain consent for treatment.

Choice B reason: This is the correct choice because implied consent is a type of consent that is assumed when a client is unable to give verbal or written consent due to their condition, and the treatment is necessary to save their life or prevent further harm. The staff can proceed with emergency surgery based on implied consent, as the client is unconscious and has extensive internal injuries that require immediate intervention.

Choice C reason: This is not the correct choice because a living will is a document that expresses a client's wishes regarding their end-of-life care, such as whether they want to receive life-sustaining treatments or not. A living will does not apply to the client in this scenario, who is not terminally ill or in a persistent vegetative state, and who may recover from their injuries with surgery.

Choice D reason: This is not the correct choice because nonmaleficence is an ethical principle that means to do no harm or prevent harm to the client. Nonmaleficence does not permit the staff to proceed with emergency surgery, as it does not override the need for consent. The staff should also consider the principle of beneficence, which means to do good or promote the well-being of the client.

Choice A reason: Allowing the AP to document the vital signs prior to logging out is not a correct action, as it violates the principles of confidentiality and accountability. The nurse should not share their login credentials or allow anyone else to use their electronic record.

Choice B reason: Logging out so the AP can log in to document the vital signs is the correct action, as it ensures that the documentation is accurate, timely, and secure. The nurse should log out of the electronic record after completing their charting and allow the AP to log in using their own credentials.

Choice C reason: Offering to chart the vital signs for the AP is not a correct action, as it delays the documentation and increases the risk of errors. The nurse should not chart the vital signs for the AP, as they are not the ones who obtained them.

Choice D reason: Recommending the AP come back later when the record is available is not a correct action, as it also delays the documentation and reduces the availability of the electronic record. The nurse should not make the AP wait for the record, as it may affect the continuity of care.