A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for a hysterectomy and has signed the informed consent form. The client tells the nurse she is unsure about having the procedure. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

Choice A reason: Beneficence is the ethical principle of doing good or acting in the best interest of others. While this is an important principle for nurses to follow, it does not directly apply to the situation of reporting the truth about the incident.

Choice B reason: Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle of avoiding harm or minimizing the risk of harm to others. This principle is relevant to the prevention of falls and the use of gait belts, but it does not address the issue of honesty in documentation.

Choice C reason: Fidelity is the ethical principle of being faithful or loyal to one's commitments and responsibilities. This principle relates to the nurse's duty to provide safe and competent care to the client, but it does not specify the obligation to report the facts accurately.

Choice D reason: Veracity is the ethical principle of telling the truth or being truthful. This principle is the most appropriate for the charge nurse to follow in this case, as it requires the nurse to report the incident honestly and completely, including the omission of the gait belt. This is essential for quality improvement, legal protection, and ethical accountability.

Choice A reason: This is not the correct choice because checking on a client whose telemetry monitor is continuously beeping is a task that requires nursing judgment and assessment skills. The nurse should not delegate this task to the AP, but rather perform it themselves or notify the health care provider.

Choice B reason: This is the correct choice because tagging a malfunctioning piece of equipment as broken is a task that does not involve direct client care or clinical decision making. The nurse can delegate this task to the AP, who can follow the facility's policy and procedure for reporting and removing faulty equipment.

Choice C reason: This is not the correct choice because determining whether an oxygen flow meter is accurately set at 2 L/min via nasal cannula is a task that involves administering medication and monitoring the client's oxygenation status. The nurse should not delegate this task to the AP, but rather perform it themselves and document the results.

Choice D reason: This is not the correct choice because instructing a client about the use of an incentive spirometer is a task that involves providing client education and evaluating the client's understanding and compliance. The nurse should not delegate this task to the AP, but rather perform it themselves and document the outcomes.