A nurse decides to use the ethical principle of deontology to make clinical decisions. This princi-ple is based on treating all people the same regardless of circumstances and on one's duty to do the right thing regardless of circumstances
Which situation would most likely cause an ethical dilemma for this nurse?
a. Assisting with a laparoscopy for a tubal pregnancy
b. Refusal of a patient to take his medica-tions
c. Patient reconsiders surgery for cancer
d. Woman refuses to terminate her pregnancy even knowing the fetus has non–life-sustaining defects
ANS: A
Deontology is the belief of the rightness or wrongness of an act and not the consequences. The other options do not reflect a situation that would cause ethical conflict in this nurse.
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A nurse working with a Filipino American client has noted that the client rarely makes eye contact
during their interactions. The nurse hypothesizes that the reason for lack of eye contact is client low self-esteem and plans interventions designed to raise the client's self-esteem. After 3 weeks the client's eye contact has not improved. The nurse's clinical supervisor suggests that a problem exists with the assessment and plan. The most accurate formulation of the problem is a. the client's poor eye contact is indicative of anger and hostility that are going unaddressed. b. the client's eye contact should have been directly addressed by role playing to increase comfort with eye contact. c. the nurse should have considered the client's culture during the assessment and before making a plan. d. the nurse should not have independently embarked on assessment and planning.
Hostile or angry patients present unique nursing challenges from a legal perspective. Which option reflects a basic intervention that a nurse can take with a hostile or angry patient?
1. Allow the patient to be alone and have long periods of quiet time. 2. Ensure that family members are always present to calm the patient. 3. Spend additional time with the patient, showing that he or she is important. 4. Sedate the patient to diffuse further encounters with the patient.
A nurse is caring for an immobile client with a large pressure ulcer on her left ankle. Which of the following statements by the nurse best reflects critical thinking regarding client care?
1. "I'm sure that friction and pressure have caused this problem." 2. "Please be sure that her ankles are well padded when you place her in bed." 3. "Do you have any suggestions on how we can minimize the pressure to her an-kles?" 4. "It was an ineffective turning schedule that allowed this to happen so now we will reposition every hour."
The nurse reviewing the records of a client notes a prescription for tretinoin (Avita). Which question should the nurse include in the assessment?
A. "Have you noticed your eczema is clearing up?" B. "Is your rosacea getting better?" C. "Have you noticed the lesions healing?" D. "Is your acne clearing up?"