A nurse is caring for a client who is terminally ill and receiving nutritional support. The client's adult children disagree about continuing nutritional support. The dilemma is referred to the ethics committee. Which of the following actions should the nurse expect the committee to take?

Choice A rationale:

The child having red fissures at the corners of the mouth is not the priority finding. While this could indicate a nutritional deficiency, such as vitamin B2 (riboflavin) deficiency, the presence of bruises on the child's legs raises more immediate concerns related to potential physical abuse or safety issues.

Choice B rationale:

The child having several small bruises on both legs is the priority finding. Bruising on a school-age child could indicate physical abuse or an unsafe living environment. Ensuring the child's safety and well-being takes precedence over other findings. Assessing the nature, pattern, and explanation for the bruises is crucial.

Choice C rationale:

The child sleeping for about 13 hours each night is not the priority finding in this scenario. While sleep patterns are important, the potential for physical abuse and safety concerns associated with the bruises takes precedence.

Choice D rationale:

The child not regularly attending school is a concern, but it is not the priority finding when compared to the possibility of physical abuse indicated by the bruises. Both issues need to be addressed, but ensuring the child's immediate safety is the primary focus.

The correct answer is choice D: Explore alternative solutions to address unit workflow with the nurses.

Choice A rationale:

Scheduling the nurses to work on alternating shifts (Choice A) might alleviate the immediate conflict, but it doesn't address the root cause of the issue, which is their perceived unequal workload. This approach could also disrupt the unit's continuity of care and potentially lead to further conflicts.

Choice B rationale:

Organizing a task force to evaluate the situation (Choice B) could be beneficial in the long run for identifying systemic issues contributing to the conflict. However, this approach might take time to yield results. In the meantime, the conflict could continue to negatively impact the unit's functioning.

Choice C rationale:

Telling the nurses that it's their responsibility to cooperate with coworkers (Choice C) is oversimplifying the situation. While cooperation is important, conflicts often arise from deeper issues that need to be addressed constructively. This choice doesn't provide a clear plan for resolving the workload disparity.

Choice D rationale:

Exploring alternative solutions to address unit workflow with the nurses (Choice D) is the most effective approach. By engaging the nurses in problem-solving discussions, the charge nurse can identify the reasons behind their perception of unfair workload distribution and collaboratively develop strategies to ensure a more equitable division of tasks. This approach promotes communication, collaboration, and shared accountability.