A client is admitted to a health care facility with complaints of nausea, headache, and abdominal pain. The physician orders a series of tests to determine the exact cause of the client's condition. After the physician leaves, the client has some questions about the sequence of events during the test. What should the nurse do in this case?

Question

A) The nurse should explain the information to the client.
B) The nurse should page the physician.
C) The nurse should call the laboratory assistant to explain.
D) The nurse should provide medication to calm the client.

Answer 1

A
Feedback:
The nurse should repeat the need for the test to the client. Although physicians are responsible for giving clients sufficient information to obtain their informed consent, not all clients fully understand the information. Some are too anxious to process details, whereas others feel too insecure to ask questions, and still others express additional concerns after the physician has left. Often the nurse must repeat, simplify, clarify, or expand the original explanation. Calling the physician is likely unnecessary and calling the laboratory assistant will not help the client in this case. Medication is not a reasonable response to the client's need.