A nurse is performing safety assessments on a client in mechanical restraints as required by policy. Which action by the nurse demonstrates the ethical principle of nonmaleficence?
Releasing the client when stated behavioral control is achieved
Explaining the behavioral requirements for release of restraint to the client
Applying restraints based solely on assessment findings and not on attitude toward the client
Assuring that the restraints are not causing injury to the client
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A reason: Releasing the client when behavioral control is achieved aligns with autonomy and beneficence, not nonmaleficence. While it benefits the client, it does not directly address harm prevention, which is the core of nonmaleficence. The focus is on restoring freedom, not specifically ensuring no physical harm during restraint use.
Choice B reason: Explaining release requirements promotes understanding and autonomy but does not directly prevent harm, the focus of nonmaleficence. It supports therapeutic communication but does not address the physical safety risks of restraints, such as skin breakdown or circulation issues, making it less relevant to this principle.
Choice C reason: Applying restraints based on assessment, not attitude, ensures objectivity, aligning with justice and fairness. While this prevents inappropriate restraint use, it is less directly tied to nonmaleficence, which focuses on avoiding harm like injury during restraint application, making it a secondary consideration in this context.
Choice D reason: Assuring restraints do not cause injury directly upholds nonmaleficence, the ethical principle of avoiding harm. Regular checks for skin breakdown, circulation impairment, or nerve damage prevent physical harm, ensuring safety during restraint use, making this action the most aligned with nonmaleficence in a restrained client.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Coercing treatment violates the voluntary client’s autonomy. Legally, voluntary patients can refuse medication unless they pose imminent danger, requiring involuntary commitment. Manipulation or disruption does not meet legal criteria for forced treatment, as mental health laws prioritize patient rights absent clear harm risks.
Choice B reason: A 302 (involuntary commitment) requires evidence of imminent danger to self or others, not just disruptive behavior. Family petitions cannot override this legal threshold without clinical justification, and manipulation alone does not qualify, making this option incorrect for enforcing treatment in a voluntary client.
Choice C reason: As a voluntary client, the individual retains the right to refuse treatment unless deemed a danger to self or others. Mental health laws protect autonomy, and manipulation or lack of progress does not justify forced medication, making refusal a legal right in this scenario.
Choice D reason: Involuntary commitment by a doctor requires evidence of imminent danger or inability to care for oneself, not just disruptive behavior or nonadherence. Without such criteria, the client’s voluntary status protects their right to refuse, making involuntary commitment legally inappropriate in this situation.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Left-sided flank pain may suggest kidney stones or infection but is not specific to AKI. Pain can occur in various conditions, including pyelonephritis or ureteral obstruction, and does not directly indicate reduced glomerular filtration or oliguria, which are hallmarks of AKI, making it less urgent.
Choice B reason: Blood pressure of 138/86 mm Hg and heart rate of 92 bpm are within normal ranges and not specific to AKI. While hypertension can occur in AKI due to fluid overload, these values do not strongly suggest AKI without other signs like oliguria or lab abnormalities.
Choice C reason: Cloudy urine with sediment and foul odor suggests a urinary tract infection, not necessarily AKI. Infections can coexist with AKI but are not diagnostic. AKI is characterized by reduced urine output and elevated creatinine, not primarily by urine appearance, making this finding less indicative.
Choice D reason: Urine output of 150 mL in 8 hours (450 mL/day) indicates oliguria, a key sign of AKI, where kidneys fail to filter adequately, reducing urine production. This can lead to fluid overload and toxin accumulation, necessitating urgent provider notification to evaluate and manage potential AKI complications like hyperkalemia.
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