A nurse is flushing a client’s intermittent infusion device. The client states, “Why do you have to do that if you are not giving me medicine?” Which of the following statements should the nurse make?

Choice A reason: Asking an experienced nurse to assist ensures the procedure is performed safely while allowing the newly licensed nurse to gain competence. Tracheal suctioning requires sterile technique and skill to avoid complications like hypoxia or trauma. This approach supports patient safety and professional development, aligning with nursing standards.
Choice B reason: Refusing the assignment is inappropriate, as tracheal suctioning is within an RN’s scope of practice. Refusal avoids responsibility without addressing the client’s needs or the nurse’s professional growth. Seeking assistance ensures safe care while building skills, making this choice less effective and unprofessional.
Choice C reason: Performing tracheal suctioning without prior experience risks patient harm, as it requires precise technique to prevent complications like mucosal damage or infection. Without guidance, errors are more likely. Seeking supervision ensures safety and competence, making this choice unsafe and inappropriate for a novice nurse.
Choice D reason: Delegating tracheal suctioning to assistive personnel is inappropriate, as it is a sterile procedure requiring RN-level skills and judgment. Assistive personnel are not trained for invasive procedures like suctioning, which risks complications. This choice violates delegation principles and compromises patient safety, making it incorrect.

Choice A reason: Telling the daughter not to worry dismisses her emotional concerns and does not facilitate open communication. Addressing fears about a loved one’s death requires empathy and discussion to process grief and understand hospice care, which focuses on comfort. This response is inappropriate, as it avoids addressing the daughter’s needs.
Choice B reason: Acknowledging the daughter’s concerns about her mother’s death and inviting discussion is therapeutic. It validates her emotions, encouraging open dialogue about grief, hospice care, and end-of-life expectations. This approach supports psychological coping, aligns with palliative care principles, and helps the daughter prepare for her mother’s transition, making it appropriate.
Choice C reason: Discussing the mother’s cancer and its implications helps the daughter understand the disease progression and hospice care’s role in symptom management. This fosters informed communication, addressing fears and clarifying expectations. It supports emotional preparation for end-of-life discussions, making this response appropriate for facilitating understanding and coping.
Choice D reason: Encouraging the daughter to avoid thinking about dying dismisses the reality of the situation and hinders emotional processing. Hospice care involves preparing for end-of-life, and open discussions about death are therapeutic. This response is inappropriate, as it discourages necessary conversations about the mother’s condition and prognosis.