A nurse is preparing to administer testosterone gel to a client who has hypogonadism. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Choice A reason: Beneficence, acting for patient benefit, is not breached, as both clients receive care and supplies, albeit differently. Unequal distribution reflects access issues, not failure to promote well-being, making beneficence less relevant than justice in addressing this ethical concern.
Choice B reason: Nonmaleficence, avoiding harm, is not violated, as both clients access supplies without direct harm. The inequality in delivery method raises fairness concerns, not harm, making justice the primary ethical principle breached in this scenario of differential treatment.
Choice C reason: Justice, ensuring fair treatment, is breached when one client receives supplies directly and another must seek them externally due to insurance status. This inequality in resource access violates equitable care principles, critical in healthcare ethics to ensure fairness across patient populations.
Choice D reason: Autonomy, respecting patient choices, is not breached, as both clients receive care consistent with their needs. The issue lies in unequal resource access, not decision-making restrictions, making justice the relevant ethical principle over autonomy in this scenario.

Choice A reason: Obtaining initial assessments requires clinical judgment and is outside the scope of assistive personnel (AP). Registered nurses must perform assessments to identify health changes accurately. Delegating this task violates scope of practice regulations, making it illegal and unsafe for AP to perform.
Choice B reason: Changing a nonsterile dressing is within the scope of assistive personnel, as it involves routine, non-invasive care under nurse supervision. AP are trained for such tasks, which do not require clinical judgment, making this a legal and appropriate delegation choice.
Choice C reason: Interpreting laboratory results requires advanced knowledge and clinical decision-making, reserved for registered nurses or providers. Assistive personnel lack the training to analyze results, so delegating this task is illegal and risks patient safety, making it an incorrect choice.
Choice D reason: Educating clients and families involves assessing learning needs and tailoring information, which requires nursing judgment. Assistive personnel are not trained for patient education, making this task outside their scope and illegal to delegate, thus an incorrect choice.