A client nearing the end of life requests that he be given no food or fluids.
The physician orders the insertion of a nasogastric tube to feed the client.
What situation does this create for the nurse providing care?
The nurse must follow the physician's orders.
The physician's order creates a barrier to establishing an effective nurse-client relationship.
The nurse faces an ethical dilemma about inconsistent courses of action.
The nurse is unable to provide care for the client.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale
While nurses are generally expected to follow physician's orders, they also have a professional and ethical responsibility to advocate for their patients. In situations where an order conflicts with the patient's wishes and ethical principles, blindly following the order can lead to moral distress.
Choice B rationale
The physician's order, which contradicts the patient's explicit request, can indeed create a barrier to establishing an effective nurse-client relationship built on trust and respect for the patient's autonomy. The nurse may feel conflicted in carrying out an unwanted intervention.
Choice C rationale
The situation creates an ethical dilemma for the nurse because there are conflicting courses of action with moral implications. The nurse faces a conflict between the duty to follow the physician's order and the ethical principle of respecting the patient's autonomy and right to refuse treatment, even life-sustaining measures at the end of life.
Choice D rationale
The nurse is not unable to provide care but faces a complex ethical challenge in determining the most appropriate and ethical course of action that respects the patient's wishes while navigating the physician's order.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Playing music chosen by the client can promote relaxation by providing a familiar and comforting auditory stimulus. Music can help to reduce anxiety and create a calming environment, thus minimizing sensory overload in a client recovering from a stroke in the intensive care unit. This personalized approach respects the client's preferences and can positively influence their emotional state, fostering a more restful atmosphere conducive to healing.
Choice B rationale
Encouraging frequent visitors throughout the day can contribute to sensory overload for a client recovering from a stroke. While social support is important, excessive stimulation from multiple visitors can be overwhelming and disrupt the client's rest and recovery process in the intensive care unit, potentially increasing agitation and hindering relaxation.
Choice C rationale
Sitting in a chair next to the client and talking can be stimulating and may not promote relaxation, especially for a client who has recently experienced a stroke. Depending on the content and tone of the conversation, this interaction could increase sensory input and potentially cause agitation or fatigue rather than fostering a calm and restful environment needed for recovery in the intensive care unit.
Choice D rationale
Turning on the television to the Super Bowl would likely exacerbate sensory overload due to the bright lights, loud noises, and fast-paced visual stimulation. This type of environment is counterproductive to promoting relaxation and can be particularly overwhelming for a client recovering from a stroke in the intensive care unit, potentially increasing anxiety and hindering rest.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Asking "How loud is his snoring?" is subjective and difficult for the spouse to quantify accurately. While loudness can be a factor, it doesn't directly address potential underlying medical conditions like obstructive sleep apnea.
Choice B rationale
Determining the frequency of awakenings due to snoring provides some information about the impact on the spouse's sleep but doesn't offer specific details about the nature of the snoring itself or potential pauses in breathing.
Choice C rationale
Asking "Is there silence after snoring which then is followed with a snort?" directly inquires about a pattern indicative of obstructive sleep apnea. Apneic episodes involve cessation of breathing (silence), followed by a gasp or snort as the airway reopens.
Choice D rationale
Knowing the duration of snoring each night provides a general overview but doesn't offer specific details about the characteristics of the snoring, such as pauses in breathing or gasping, which are crucial for identifying potential sleep disorders. .
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