Parents of an adolescent client experiencing a relapse of leukemia do not want the client to know about the relapse. Which of the following ethical principles must a nurse consider when the client asks about their medical status?
Fidelity
Authority
Justice
Veracity
The Correct Answer is D
A. Fidelity: Fidelity refers to the responsibility to maintain trust and uphold promises made to clients. While important, the core issue in this case is not about fulfilling prior commitments but rather about responding truthfully to a direct question from the adolescent regarding their medical condition.
B. Authority: Authority is the recognized power to make decisions or enforce obedience, typically within a professional or legal framework. In this situation, the ethical dilemma is not related to decision-making power but centers on the nurse's obligation to provide honest communication.
C. Justice: Justice emphasizes fairness and equitable treatment of all clients in healthcare settings. Although justice is critical to ethical practice, the specific challenge here involves answering truthfully when asked about a relapse, rather than issues of equitable treatment or distribution of care.
D. Veracity: Veracity demands honesty and transparency when communicating with clients about their health. When the adolescent directly questions the nurse about their medical status, veracity obligates the nurse to provide truthful and accurate information, respecting the client's right to know.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Use a moisture barrier on the client's skin: Applying a moisture barrier cream helps protect the skin from irritation caused by constant exposure to stool and urine. It creates a protective layer that prevents breakdown, reduces friction, and maintains skin integrity in incontinent clients.
B. Clean the client's skin with soap and hot water: Using soap and hot water can strip the skin of natural oils and cause dryness or irritation, which increases the risk of breakdown. Gentle cleansing with mild soap and lukewarm water is recommended instead to preserve skin health.
C. Massage the area around the client's coccyx: Massaging bony prominences can damage fragile tissue and capillaries in older adults, increasing the risk for pressure injuries rather than preventing them. Light touch is appropriate, but firm massage should be avoided in at-risk areas.
D. Limit the client's fluid intake: Restricting fluids can lead to dehydration, concentrated urine, and an increased risk of urinary tract infections. Adequate hydration is essential to support overall health and skin resilience, even when managing incontinence.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Encourage visits from family members: While family presence can help reduce anxiety and reorient clients with delirium, it is not the immediate first step. Before implementing supportive strategies, the nurse must first assess the client’s neurological status to determine the severity and possible cause of the delirium.
B. Administer an anxiolytic medication: Administering medications should not be the first action because delirium can be caused by multiple reversible factors. Sedating a client without identifying the underlying cause may worsen confusion or mask important symptoms that need immediate intervention.
C. Determine the client's level of consciousness: Assessing the client’s level of consciousness is the priority because it provides critical information about the severity of the delirium and helps guide immediate and appropriate interventions. Early assessment ensures that life-threatening conditions, such as hypoxia or sepsis, are not overlooked.
D. Keep lights on in the client's room: Maintaining a well-lit environment can help prevent disorientation, especially at night, but it is a secondary supportive measure. Assessment of mental status must occur first to prioritize safety and identify urgent medical needs.
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