A charge nurse at a long-term care facility ensures that the workload is distributed equally among staff when making assignments.
Which of the following ethical principles is the nurse upholding?

Face the client at eye level when communicating.

This is because eye contact helps to establish rapport and trust with the client who has dementia and shows respect and attention. Facing the client at eye level also reduces distractions and background noise that might interfere with communication.

Choice B is wrong because offering correction of incorrect client statements can increase confusion, frustration, and agitation in the client who has dementia. Instead of correcting the client, the nurse should acknowledge their feelings and try to understand their perspective.

Choice C is wrong because reorienting the client to date and time with each encounter can be stressful and ineffective for the client who has dementia. Reorientation may work in the early stages of dementia, but as the disease progresses, the client may lose their ability to retain new information and may become more disoriented. Instead of reorienting the client, the nurse should use orienting names or labels whenever possible, such as “Your son, Jack” .

Choice D is wrong because avoiding using gestures when communicating with the client who has dementia can limit the nurse’s ability to convey meaning and emotion. Gestures can help to supplement verbal communication and provide cues for the client who has difficulty understanding words. However, the nurse should avoid using gestures that might be misinterpreted or threatening to the client, such as pointing or waving .

Encourage the client to help care for their surgical incision. This can help the client accept the body image change and promote healing.

Choice B is wrong because suggesting that the client decide about reconstruction as soon as possible can pressure the client and interfere with their coping process.

Choice C is wrong because postponing referrals to support services until the client requests them can delay the client’s emotional recovery and increase their isolation.

Choice D is wrong because avoiding talking to the client about the surgery can indicate that the nurse is uncomfortable with the topic and discourage the client from expressing their feelings.