A nurse is assisting with the care of an adolescent. Which of the following statements should the nurse identify as high-risk behaviors?

A) Autonomy: Autonomy refers to the right of individuals to make their own choices and decisions. While the nurse’s actions may promote the client’s independence in the future, the nurse’s promise to walk with the client does not directly address or uphold the client’s autonomy. The nurse is offering support rather than encouraging the client to make independent decisions about their participation in the exercise.

B) Fidelity: Fidelity involves being faithful and keeping promises or commitments. In this scenario, the nurse promises to walk with the client in the courtyard each day, and this promise demonstrates the ethical principle of fidelity. The nurse is demonstrating trustworthiness and loyalty by committing to help the client overcome their anxiety and follow through with the daily exercise.

C) Justice: Justice is the ethical principle that focuses on fairness and equal treatment for all individuals. While justice is important in providing equal care to all clients, it is not the primary principle in this scenario. The nurse’s actions focus on meeting the specific needs of the individual client, which is more aligned with fidelity.

D) Nonmaleficence: Nonmaleficence means “do no harm.” While the nurse’s goal is to prevent harm by helping the client address their anxiety, the primary ethical principle at play here is fidelity, as the nurse is keeping their promise to provide consistent support. Nonmaleficence would be more relevant if the nurse were directly addressing potential harm or risk associated with the client’s situation, but the promise to walk with the client focuses more on the nurse’s commitment.

A) "I should position the car seat's retainer clip at the level of my baby's belly button.": This statement is incorrect. The retainer clip of the car seat should be positioned at the level of the baby's armpits, not the belly button. Proper placement of the retainer clip ensures the safety harness fits securely across the baby's chest, reducing the risk of injury during a crash.

B) "I should keep my baby rear-facing in the car seat until she is 2 years old.": This statement is correct and aligns with current guidelines from organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Infants and toddlers should remain in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least 2 years old or until they reach the maximum height or weight limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer for rear-facing use. Rear-facing is the safest position for infants and provides the best protection for their developing head, neck, and spine.

C) "I should enable the airbag when my baby is in the front seat of the car.": This statement is incorrect. Infants and young children should never ride in the front seat of a car with an active airbag, as airbags can cause serious injury or death in the event of a collision. Children should always be placed in the back seat, ideally in a rear-facing car seat, to minimize risk.

D) "I should place my baby in the car seat at a 90-degree angle.": This statement is incorrect. A car seat should be installed at a slight recline to ensure that the baby's airway remains open and to prevent their head from falling forward. A 45-degree angle is typically recommended for newborns, although this can vary based on the specific car seat model and the baby's size.