A client who is terminally ill tells a nurse on the medical-surgical unit that she feels hopeless. Which of the following statements by the nurse is appropriate?

Rationale:

A. Fill the bath basin with tap water that is 39° C (102.2° F) is too warm for bathing; the recommended water temperature is typically around 37°C (98.6°F) to prevent burns or discomfort.

B. Pull the curtain around the client's bed ensures privacy for the client during the bath, which is important for maintaining dignity and confidentiality.

C. Wash the client's arms and hands first is not necessarily the first step; typically, washing the face and then moving to the rest of the body is preferred.

D. Use a washcloth to wipe the client's eyes from the outer canthus to the inner canthus is incorrect as it should be done from the inner canthus to the outer canthus to avoid spreading any discharge across the eye.

Rationale:

A. A client who is alert and oriented makes an informed decision to leave the hospital against medical advice. The nurse applies restraints to the client to prevent him from leaving constitutes a violation of patient autonomy and could be considered false imprisonment rather than negligence.

B. A nurse identifies the absence of peripheral pulsation in a casted extremity in the early morning and reports it to the provider in the early afternoon might be considered a delay in care but does not necessarily meet the criteria for negligence unless it leads to harm.

C. A client who is competent refuses an antidepressant medication. The nurse dissolves the medication in food and administers it to her without her knowledge is an example of negligence as it violates the client’s autonomy and informed consent.

D. A nurse finds a client who is on a low-sodium diet eating salted potato chips. The nurse tells the client that she will apply wrist restraints if he does not stop eating the potato chips is inappropriate but does not specifically represent negligence; it’s more about improper behavior or coercion.