A nurse in an emergency department is assessing a school-age child who was brought in by their parents and has scald burns to both hands and wrists. The nurse suspects physical abuse.

Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Choice A rationale:

Fidelity refers to the principle of being loyal, faithful, and keeping promises. It does not specifically relate to providing accurate information about treatment effects. In this scenario, the nurse is discussing the potential adverse effects of a treatment, which falls under the domain of providing accurate and truthful information to the client.

Choice B rationale:

Beneficence is the ethical principle of doing good and promoting the well-being of the patient. While educating the client about potential adverse effects is a form of beneficence, the specific principle demonstrated in this scenario is veracity, which is the duty to tell the truth. The nurse is being truthful about the potential side effect (lightheadedness) while clarifying that it should not affect memory.

Choice C rationale:

Veracity is the ethical principle of truth-telling. In this scenario, the nurse is demonstrating veracity by providing honest and accurate information to the client about the potential adverse effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation. By being truthful, the nurse upholds the ethical principle of veracity.

Choice D rationale:

Autonomy refers to the principle of respecting the patient's right to make decisions about their own healthcare. While respecting autonomy is important, the nurse's action in this scenario specifically pertains to providing accurate information (veracity) rather than solely focusing on the client's decision-making autonomy.

- A. Pink, frothy sputum is a characteristic finding of pulmonary edema, which is caused by fluid accumulation in the alveoli and interstitial spaces of the lungs. This impairs gas exchange and leads to hypoxia and respiratory distress.

- B. Bradycardia is not expected in pulmonary edema. The client is more likely to have tachycardia due to increased sympathetic stimulation and decreased cardiac output.

- C. Flushed, dry skin is not expected in pulmonary edema. The client is more likely to have pale, cool, and clammy skin due to peripheral vasoconstriction and decreased perfusion.

- D. Wheezing is not a specific finding of pulmonary edema. It may indicate bronchospasm or asthma, which are different conditions that affect the airways rather than the alveoli.