A nurse enters a client's room and sees smoke coming from a wall outlet. After removing the client from the room, which of the following actions should the nurse take next?

A. "The surgeon can obtain informed consent from the client's adult cousin."Informed consent must be obtained from a parent or legal guardian for a minor. An adult cousin does not have the legal authority to provide consent unless they are the legal guardian of the minor, which is not indicated in this scenario.

B. "The surgeon should delay surgery until he can obtain informed consent from a parent."Delaying surgery in an emergency situation could endanger the client's life or health. In such cases, waiting for parental consent is not advisable, and other legal mechanisms, such as implied consent, should be used to proceed with necessary treatment.

C. "The surgeon can proceed with the surgery by invoking implied consent."In emergency situations where the client is a minor and the parents or legal guardians are not available to provide consent, the principle of implied consent allows healthcare providers to perform life-saving procedures without explicit consent. The law recognizes that in emergencies, delaying treatment to obtain consent could result in harm, so the surgeon can proceed with the surgery.

D. "The client's pediatrician can obtain implied consent."The concept of implied consent is not something that can be "obtained" by another healthcare provider. It is a legal principle that allows healthcare providers to act in the best interest of the client during an emergency when consent cannot be obtained. The pediatrician does not have a role in obtaining or invoking implied consent in this context; it is the responsibility of the surgeon performing the emergency procedure.

A. "Maybe you should wait to have the procedure."

This response may come across as directive and could potentially influence the client's decision. It does not encourage the client to express their feelings or concerns but suggests a specific course of action.

B. "This is a common feeling for clients to have before the procedure."

While it's true that many clients may experience conflicted feelings before undergoing certain procedures, this response is somewhat dismissive. It does not invite the client to explore their specific concerns and may not address the individual nature of the client's feelings.

C. Share more with me about your concerns related to the procedure.

This response encourages the client to express their concerns and provides an opportunity for the nurse to understand the specific issues causing the conflict. It demonstrates empathy and openness, fostering a therapeutic nurse-client relationship. By inviting the client to share more, the nurse can gain insight into the client's emotional and psychological concerns about the tubal ligation.

D. "Why are you concerned about the procedure?"

While this question is an attempt to understand the client's concerns, it may be perceived as too direct or confrontational. The wording might make the client feel defensive or pressured to justify their feelings. The more open-ended phrasing in option C is generally more conducive to therapeutic communication.