A nurse is conducting a medication count of narcotics in the cart.

The nurse discovers an incorrect count and missing narcotic medication. Which ethical standard compels the nurse to report the missing medication?

Choice A rationale
Intuition refers to understanding or knowing something without the need for conscious reasoning. It doesn’t fit in this context as the nurse’s actions are deliberate and based on the patient’s needs.
Choice B rationale
Apathy refers to a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern. It is the opposite of what the nurse is demonstrating. The nurse is showing concern for the patient’s situation and taking action to help.
Choice C rationale
Empathy refers to the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. While empathy may motivate the nurse’s actions, it does not fully describe the action of contacting a social worker to assist the patient.
Choice D rationale
Advocacy refers to the act of pleading for, supporting, or recommending a course of action. The nurse is advocating for the patient by recognizing their needs and seeking assistance from a social worker.

Choice A rationale
Discrimination refers to the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex. In this case, the physician is refusing to use a translator and only provides materials in English to patients who may not understand the language. This action can be seen as discriminatory because it denies these patients the same level of care that English-speaking patients receive.
Choice B rationale
Ethnocentrism is the belief in the inherent superiority of one’s own ethnic group or culture. While the physician’s actions may seem ethnocentric, as they are not considering the cultural needs of their patients, the scenario does not provide enough information to definitively label the behavior as such.
Choice C rationale
Stereotyping involves generalized and oversimplified beliefs about a particular group. The physician’s actions do not necessarily indicate that they are stereotyping their patients, but rather that they are not providing equitable care.
Choice D rationale
Acculturation is the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group. The physician’s actions do not demonstrate acculturation. Instead, they show a lack of willingness to accommodate the cultural and linguistic needs of their patients.