A nurse is caring for a client who is starting treatment for substance use disorder. Which of the following actions indicates the nurse is practicing the ethical principle of nonmaleficence?

A. Discuss the provider's goals for the client's care:
Discussing the provider's goals is essential, but it may not directly address the client's concerns about medication adherence. While these goals are important for the overall care plan, it's crucial to first engage in a conversation with the client about their specific issues and challenges related to taking the prescribed medication. The client's perspective and concerns should be a priority.

B. Ask the client if the medication is causing adverse effects:
This is the recommended choice. Inquiring about adverse effects is important to understand the client's experience with the medication. Some clients may discontinue their medication due to intolerable side effects. By addressing this concern, the nurse can provide education, seek potential solutions, and collaborate with the healthcare team to adjust the medication or dosage. Open communication helps to identify and mitigate barriers to medication adherence.

C. Tell the client they will be admitted to an inpatient care facility if they do not take the medication:
This choice involves a coercive and threatening approach. It's not an ethical or therapeutic method to promote medication adherence. Threatening involuntary hospitalization can create fear and mistrust, potentially leading to further non-compliance and damaging the therapeutic relationship. It should be avoided.

D. Request the provider prescribe a second antipsychotic medication to the client:
This option is not appropriate at this stage. Adding another medication without addressing the underlying issue of non-adherence and without assessing the client's response to the current medication is not advisable. It can complicate the medication regimen, potentially worsen side effects, and doesn't address the primary concern, which is the client's non-adherence to their current medication. It's important to understand the reasons for non-adherence before considering additional medications.

A. Clients who are involuntarily committed do not maintain access to legal counsel.
This statement is incorrect. Clients who are involuntarily committed generally do have the right to legal counsel. They can challenge their commitment in a court of law, and legal representation is often provided to them if they cannot afford it.

B. Clients must be informed of the risks of treatment.
This statement is correct. Informed consent is a fundamental principle in healthcare, including mental health treatment. Clients have the right to be fully informed about the risks and benefits of any treatment or procedure before giving consent.

C. Clients who have a severe mental illness cannot request a psychiatric advance directive.
This statement is incorrect. Clients with severe mental illness can, and should, create psychiatric advance directives. These directives allow individuals to specify their preferences regarding mental health treatment in advance, ensuring their wishes are respected even if they are not able to communicate them at a later time due to their mental condition.

D. Clients who are violent can refuse chemical restraint.
This statement is generally incorrect. In emergency situations where a client poses an immediate danger to themselves or others, chemical restraint might be administered without the client's consent to ensure safety. However, there are strict guidelines and regulations surrounding the use of chemical restraints, and they should only be used in specific situations and as a last resort. In non-emergency situations, clients generally have the right to refuse any treatment, including chemical restraint, unless it is court-ordered due to their condition posing an imminent risk.