A charge nurse notices that two staff nurses are not taking meal breaks during their shifts.

Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A. Hospice care: This option is correct because hospice care provides comprehensive support and comfort measures for terminally ill patients and their families, focusing on improving quality of life in the final stages of an illness.

B. Legal assistance: While legal assistance may be important for advanced care planning and end-of-life decisions, it may not be among the immediate priorities for a client with terminal lung cancer expected to live less than 6 months.
C. Respite care: Respite care allows caregivers to take a temporary break from their caregiving responsibilities, which can be invaluable for family members caring for a terminally ill loved one, providing them with much-needed rest and support.
D. Adult day care: While adult day care may be beneficial for some clients and their caregivers, it may not be as relevant for a client with terminal lung cancer who may have more immediate needs related to symptom management and end-of-life care.
E. Social worker: In this scenario, involving a client with terminal cancer, a social worker can provide emotional support, assist with accessing community resources, and help with care coordination, making this option appropriate.

A. The nurse is responsible for disclosing the expected outcomes of the proposed treatment is incorrect. It is the provider’s responsibility to explain the procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives, not the nurse's. The nurse's role is to reinforce the information provided by the provider.

B. Consent can be verbal or written is incorrect. While some minor procedures may involve implied or verbal consent, informed consent for major procedures, surgeries, or treatments must be written and signed by the client.

C. Nurses rely on consent to perform interventions is incorrect. While consent is important, routine nursing interventions (such as administering medications or checking vital signs) are covered under general consent given at admission. Informed consent is specifically required for invasive or high-risk procedures.

D. The nurse's signature indicates they witnessed the client's signature is correct. The nurse's role in informed consent is to witness the client signing the document and ensure they signed voluntarily, without coercion, and with full understanding of the procedure as explained by the provider.