A nurse is caring for a 16-year-old client who was in a motor-vehicle crash and needs surgical intervention immediately. The staff cannot reach either of the client's parents. The nurse should identify that which of the following is true about obtaining consent?

The surgeon can obtain informed consent from the client's adult cousin.

The surgeon should delay surgery until he can obtain informed consent from a parent.

The surgeon can proceed with the surgery by invoking implied consent.

The client's pediatrician can obtain implied consent.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

A. "The surgeon can obtain informed consent from the client's adult cousin." Informed consent must be obtained from a parent or legal guardian for a minor. An adult cousin does not have the legal authority to provide consent unless they are the legal guardian of the minor, which is not indicated in this scenario.

B. "The surgeon should delay surgery until he can obtain informed consent from a parent." Delaying surgery in an emergency situation could endanger the client's life or health. In such cases, waiting for parental consent is not advisable, and other legal mechanisms, such as implied consent, should be used to proceed with necessary treatment.

C. "The surgeon can proceed with the surgery by invoking implied consent." In emergency situations where the client is a minor and the parents or legal guardians are not available to provide consent, the principle of implied consent allows healthcare providers to perform life-saving procedures without explicit consent. The law recognizes that in emergencies, delaying treatment to obtain consent could result in harm, so the surgeon can proceed with the surgery.

D. "The client's pediatrician can obtain implied consent." The concept of implied consent is not something that can be "obtained" by another healthcare provider. It is a legal principle that allows healthcare providers to act in the best interest of the client during an emergency when consent cannot be obtained. The pediatrician does not have a role in obtaining or invoking implied consent in this context; it is the responsibility of the surgeon performing the emergency procedure.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. Report the occurrence to the nursing supervisor:

While reporting the occurrence is important, verifying the DNR status takes precedence. The nurse needs to gather information and confirm whether the patient has a current DNR order before escalating the issue to a higher authority.

B. Complete an incident report stating the facts of the situation:

Completing an incident report is a part of the process, but it should not be the first action. The immediate concern is to determine if the patient has a valid DNR order. An incident report can be completed later to document the situation and any actions taken.

C. Verify the DNR prescription is current in the medical record.

Verifying the DNR (do-not-resuscitate) prescription is the first and most immediate action the nurse should take. It is crucial to confirm the current status of the DNR order to ensure that the healthcare team is following the patient's wishes. If the DNR is indeed valid and up-to-date, it means the resuscitation efforts, including CPR, were contrary to the patient's expressed wishes.

D. Request a meeting with the ethics committee:

Contacting the ethics committee may be necessary depending on the circumstances, but it is not the first step. Verifying the DNR status is an immediate action that can guide subsequent decisions. If there are ethical concerns or conflicts, involving the ethics committee can be considered after confirming the facts surrounding the DNR order.

A. Fidelity B. Justice C. Autonomy D. Nonmaleficence

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. Fidelity refers to the concept of keeping promises or commitments made to clients. In this scenario, the nurse is demonstrating fidelity by informing the client that they will return as soon as possible with pain medication, indicating a commitment to addressing the client's needs promptly.

B. Justice pertains to fairness and equitable distribution of resources. It is not demonstrated in this scenario where the nurse is making a commitment to address the client's pain.

C. Autonomy involves respecting the client's right to make their own decisions and choices about their care. The nurse, in this case, is not specifically addressing the client's autonomy but rather demonstrating fidelity by committing to providing pain medication.

D. Nonmaleficence is the principle of doing no harm and ensuring the client's safety. While providing pain medication aligns with nonmaleficence by addressing the client's pain, the specific action of informing the client about the intent to return promptly falls more under the principle of fidelity.

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A nurse is caring for a 16-year-old client who was in a motor-vehicle crash and needs surgical intervention immediately. The staff cannot reach either of the client's parents. The nurse should identify that which of the following is true about obtaining consent?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nurse is collecting data from a client who is experiencing abdominal pain. The nurse states that they will return as soon as possible with pain medication. The nurse is demonstrating which of the following ethical principles?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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