A young adult is brought to the emergency department after taking a handful of drugs.

The client is unresponsive, so an endotracheal tube (ETT) is inserted.

How should the nurse determine if the ETT is correctly placed? (Select all that apply.).

Choice A rationale:

The nurse should respect the client's autonomy and right to make decisions about her own care. It is essential to honor the client's refusal of further treatment, and the nurse should communicate this to the family. In this situation, the client has the capacity to make her own decisions, and her wishes should be respected.

Choice B rationale:

Attempting to persuade the client to participate in the clinical trial for one month is not an appropriate approach. It disregards the client's autonomy and her right to refuse treatment. It's essential to respect the client's decision, and trying to convince her against her will is ethically and legally inappropriate.

Choice D rationale:

While it's important to ensure that the client fully understands the implications of her decision, doing so in front of her children may create additional pressure or discomfort for the client. The best approach is to have a private conversation with the client to assess her understanding and provide information or support as needed.

When a client refuses to look at their mastectomy incision and refuses to talk about it, the best response by the practical nurse (PN) is to respect the client's autonomy and validate their feelings. Option a) acknowledges the client's discomfort and provides reassurance that it is okay for them to decline looking or talking about the incision at the moment. It also offers support by letting the client know that the incision will be available for examination when they feel ready to do so.

Let's evaluate the other options:

b) "Would you like me to call another nurse to be here while I show you the wound?"
This response assumes that the client needs someone else present to address their refusal to look at the incision. While having another nurse present may be helpful for some clients, it is not the appropriate first response. Respecting the client's autonomy and providing support should be the initial approach.

c) "Part of recovery is accepting your new body image, and you will need to look at your incision."
This response may come across as directive and insensitive. It implies that the client must look at their incision as part of their recovery process, disregarding their feelings and personal choices. It is important to respect the client's autonomy and allow them to navigate their own healing journey at their own pace.

d) "You will feel beter when you see that the incision is not as bad as you may think."
This response invalidates the client's feelings and assumes that their concerns about the incision are unfounded. It is essential to respect the client's emotions and validate their experience rather than dismissing or minimizing their concerns.

In summary, when a client refuses to look at their mastectomy incision and refuses to talk about it, the best response by the practical nurse (PN) is to acknowledge the client's discomfort, respect their autonomy, and provide reassurance that it is okay for them to decline looking or talking about the incision at that moment. The client's readiness to address the incision should be honored, and support should be offered when they are ready.