A nurse is caring for a client whose partner recently died. The nurse sits with the client to provide comfort.

Which of the following ethical principles is the nurse demonstrating?

Malaise is a general feeling of discomfort, weakness, or illness that can be a sign of infection. According to the health search result from Focus Medica , bacterial pneumonia is an infection of the air sacs in one or both lungs that causes symptoms such as cough with phlegm, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. Malaise is one of the symptoms that may follow these signs of infection.

Choice A is wrong because it is not a typical symptom of bacterial pneumonia.

Drooling can be caused by other conditions, such as sore throat, dental problems, or neurological disorders.

Choice B is wrong because it is not a symptom of bacterial pneumonia either.

Tinnitus is a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears that can be caused by exposure to loud noise, ear infections, or other ear problems.

Choice D is wrong because it is not specific to bacterial pneumonia.

Rhinorrhea is a runny nose that can be caused by many factors, such as allergies, colds, or sinus infections.

Rhinorrhea can sometimes occur with viral pneumonia, but not usually with bacterial pneumonia.

Preterm pre-labor rupture of membranes (PROM) is the spontaneous rupture of the amniotic sac before the onset of labor in a pregnancy less than 37 weeks gestation. It can lead to

infection, cord prolapse, placental abruption, and preterm delivery. The client has risk factors for PROM such as a history of preterm birth and a current infection indicated by fever.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body’s response to an infection causes damage to its own tissues and organs. The client has signs of sepsis such as fever, tachycardia, and possible organ dysfunction. The client may have a urinary tract infection, a common cause of sepsis in pregnancy, or an intrauterine infection due to PROM or other factors.

Preeclampsia is not a likely complication for this client because she does not have high blood pressure or proteinuria, which are the defining features of preeclampsia. Seizures are not a likely complication for this client because she does not have epilepsy or eclampsia, which are the leading causes of seizures in pregnancy. Placenta previa is not a likely complication for this client because she does not have painless vaginal bleeding, which is the hallmark symptom of placenta previa.