A charge nurse observes a client fall while ambulating with an assistive personnel and notes that the client's gait belt was not in place. When reviewing the incident report, the charge nurse finds that the report does not mention the gait belt. Which of the following ethical principles should the charge nurse follow?

A. A nurse withholds nutrition from a client who has a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order:

Withholding nutrition from a client solely based on a DNR order may not align with ethical practice, as nutrition should be provided unless there are specific contraindications or the client has expressed wishes to withhold nutrition.
B. A nurse administers prescribed opioids to a client who has a terminal illness and respiratory rate of 8/min: This is the correct answer. Ethical practice involves providing comfort measures, including appropriate pain management, to clients who are terminally ill and experiencing pain or distress, even if it may inadvertently decrease the respiratory rate.
C. A nurse elects not to care for a client who had an abortion: Refusing to care for a client based on personal beliefs or judgments about their medical history or decisions may not align with
ethical practice, as nurses have a professional obligation to provide nonjudgmental care to all clients.
D. A nurse raises all four side rails on the bed of a client who is confused: While ensuring client safety is important, raising all four side rails without considering the client's individual needs and preferences may not be ethical practice, as it may infringe on the client's autonomy and dignity.

A. An adolescent who refuses to speak to their parents may be experiencing emotional distress, but this behavior does not necessarily require immediate intervention by the nurse.
B. A toddler who cries in the presence of their parent is displaying separation anxiety, which is a common reaction in young children and does not typically require intervention by the nurse unless it persists or escalates.
C. A preschooler who was previously toilet trained and now requires diapers may indicate regression, which could be a sign of emotional distress or physical illness and warrants further assessment and intervention by the nurse.
D. A school-age child with abrasions on their lower legs may require wound care and assessment, but this does not indicate an immediate need for intervention by the nurse unless there are signs of infection or other complications.