A nurse is caring for a client who is comatose. The client has a living will that declines the use of artificial enteral nutrition as a life-sustaining measure, but the client's family has requested that the staff begin tube feedings. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Insert the tube and begin feedings per the family's request.
Ask the provider to discuss the issue with the family.
Report the dilemma to the facility's dietitian.
Review the client's request with the family.
The Correct Answer is D
The correct answer is Choice D: Review the client's request with the family.
Choice D rationale: Reviewing the client's request with the family respects the client's autonomy and the directives stated in their living will. It allows the nurse to communicate and clarify the client's wishes with the family, helping them understand the decisions made by the client when they were competent. This action promotes open communication and may facilitate resolution of the conflict.
Choice A rationale: Inserting the tube and beginning feedings per the family's request disregards the client's living will, which explicitly declines the use of artificial enteral nutrition as a life-sustaining measure. This action goes against the ethical principle of autonomy and could have legal implications.
Choice B rationale: While asking the provider to discuss the issue with the family could be a subsequent step, it is not the primary action to take in this situation. The nurse should first review the client's request with the family to emphasize the importance of the living will and facilitate understanding between the parties involved.
Choice C rationale: Reporting the dilemma to the facility's dietitian does not address the ethical and legal concerns at hand. The dietitian's role is to manage nutritional needs, not to resolve ethical dilemmas or interpret legal documents such as living wills. Involving the dietitian may not be helpful in addressing the conflict between the client's wishes and the family's request.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
A client who is scheduled for a tubal ligation in 2 hr and is crying. Rationale: While the emotional well-being of this client is important, the absence of pulse in the right foot of the client in choice B indicates a potentially critical vascular issue that requires immediate attention.
Choice B rationale:
A client who has peripheral vascular disease and has an absent pulse in the right foot. Rationale: The correct choice. An absent pulse in a client with peripheral vascular disease suggests compromised blood flow and potential tissue ischemia. This is a critical situation that requires urgent intervention to prevent further complications.
Choice C rationale:
A client who has type 1 diabetes mellitus and needs the first dressing change for an ulcer. Rationale: While dressing changes are important, they are not as time-sensitive as addressing compromised blood flow and potential tissue damage seen in choice B.
Choice D rationale:
A client who has methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and has an axillary temperature of 38°C (100.4°F). Rationale: Although an elevated temperature can be concerning, the absence of a pulse in a peripheral vascular disease client (choice B) takes precedence as it suggests a more immediate threat to the client's limb and overall health.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Reminding the staff members that viewing the electronic medical record of a celebrity client without proper authorization is a breach of confidentiality is the immediate action required in this situation. It addresses the ethical and legal concerns related to patient privacy and ensures that the staff members are reminded of their professional responsibilities.
Choice B rationale:
Discussing the issue with the nurse manager is a step that can be taken after addressing the immediate breach of confidentiality. While involving the manager is important for handling the situation more comprehensively, the first priority is to stop the unauthorized access.
Choice C rationale:
Requesting an administrative restriction on the client's record access is an option that can be considered, but it may not be the first step to take. Before implementing such a restriction, the breach of confidentiality should be addressed directly with the staff members involved.
Choice D rationale:
Preparing a memo for the facility ethics committee is not the initial action to take in response to the breach of confidentiality. This step might be appropriate for addressing systemic issues or policy changes related to confidentiality breaches, but it doesn't directly address the immediate situation at hand.
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