The nurse is caring for a client with cancer pain. The client states, "I wish you would just give me enough medication to make me stop breathing!" From the nurse's perspective, of which ethical principle is this situation most indicative?
1. Beneficence
2. Nonmaleficence
3. Justice
4. Autonomy
Answer: 2
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle requiring avoidance of harm to others. The nurse cannot do any action bringing harm or risk of harm to the client, regardless of how the client perceives the action. Beneficence is the principle requiring the nurse's actions for the client to bring about positive outcomes for the health and/or well-being of that client. Justice is not the best choice, since this ethical principle helps determines the fairness of a nurse's actions for each client. The principle of autonomy is applicable in this situation from the client's perspective, as the client should have free choice over health care decisions. However, for the nurse, the principle of nonmaleficence is more applicable.
You might also like to view...
A 57-year-old male patient who has been prescribed doxorubicin for small-cell lung cancer is advised by the nurse to avoid taking aspirin or drugs that contain aspirin because it may
A) cause extravasation injury. B) promote bleeding. C) cause a radiation recall reaction. D) cause acute nausea and vomiting.
The care of older adult patients includes concern for their ________ health. This depends on you letting them care for themselves when they are willing and able to do so.
Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).
Describe three ways in which the nursing assistant can protect a patient's privacy.
What will be an ideal response?
Food purchases should always be planned
A. by the nursing assistant. B. with the supervising nurse. C. with the client or family member. D. by the physician.