The nurse is caring for an unconscious client. The client's family member reports that a nurse at the client's bedside stated, "I wouldn't want to live in this condition." What did this nurse not realize about the client's capabilities?
a. The client can read lips
b. Hearing can remain acute in clients who are not fully alert
c. The client can respond to statements through written communication
d. The client can be sensitive to the nurse's nonverbal behavior
ANS: B
When a client is not fully alert, it is not uncommon for nurses to speak in their presence in ways they would not if they thought the client could fully understand what is being said, forgetting that hearing can remain acute. Good clinical practice suggests never saying anything the nurse would not want the client to hear. The ability to read lips, respond to written communication, or be sensitive to nonverbal behavior does not relate to the verbal statement made by the nurse.
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