Which action should the nurse take to avoid becoming involved in a legal suit with client care?

Question

1. Consistently follow the physician's orders.
2. Document carefully all nursing care provided.
3. Avoid using emails and fax machines to send client information.
4. Always provide friendly and respectful care to the client and families.

Answer 1

2. Document carefully all nursing care provided.

Explanation: 1. The nurse has a duty to advocate for clients and that includes questioning any orders that seem unsafe or inappropriate. The nurse should not just follow the physician's orders without using clinical judgement about the order.
2. Careful documentation of nursing care is the best way for the nurse to defend himself or herself should a legal suit be filed.
3. It is not necessary to avoid using this type of technology to share or transmit client information, but it is the nurse's responsibility to ensure that client confidentiality is upheld when using email or fax.
4. Providing friendly and respectful care should be practiced by every nurse, but this would not prevent the nurse from being involved in a legal suit.