A nurse in an emergency department is caring for a client who is unconscious and requires emergency medical procedures. The nurse is unable to locate members of the client's family to obtain consent. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Contact the facility's ethics committee
Obtain consent from the client's employer
Limit care to comfort measures
Proceed with provision of medical care
The Correct Answer is D
Proceed with provision of medical care.
- A. Contact the facility's ethics committee: This is incorrect because it is not an urgent action and it does not address the client's immediate needs. The ethics committee can be consulted later if there are ethical dilemmas or conflicts regarding the client's care.
- B. Obtain consent from the client's employer: This is incorrect because it is not a valid source of consent. The employer has no legal or ethical authority to make decisions for the client, unless they are also a designated surrogate or proxy.
- C. Limit care to comfort measures: This is incorrect because it does not meet the standard of care for an emergency situation. The nurse has a duty to provide life-saving interventions for a client who is unconscious and requires emergency medical procedures, unless there is evidence of a valid advance directive that states otherwise.
- D. Proceed with provision of medical care: This is correct because it follows the principle of implied consent, which assumes that a reasonable person would consent to emergency treatment if they were able to do so. The nurse should document the circumstances and continue to search for family members or other sources of consent.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
- A. "We can expect the hospice nurse to provide support for us after our mother's death." This statement indicates that the family understands that hospice care includes bereavement services for up to one year after the death of a loved one.
- B. "A hospice nurse will come to the house each time our mother needs pain medication." This statement indicates that the family does not understand that hospice care involves teaching them how to administer pain medication and other comfort measures to their mother at home.
- C. "Now that my mother is receiving hospice services, we will not be able to get respite care." This statement indicates that the family does not understand that hospice care offers respite care, which allows them to take a break from caregiving for a short period of time.
- D. "Hospice care focuses on arranging treatment that will prolong our mother's life." This statement indicates that the family does not understand that hospice care focuses on providing palliative care, which aims to relieve pain and suffering, rather than curative treatment, which aims to extend life.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
A blood lead level of 18 mcg/dL in a 9-month-old infant is elevated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers a blood lead level of 5 mcg/dL or higher in children to be concerning. Lead exposure can lead to developmental delays and cognitive impairments. Therefore, this result needs to be reported to the healthcare provider promptly.
Choice B rationale:
Hemoglobin level of 12 g/dL is within the normal range for a 9-month-old infant (11-15 g/dL) There is no need to report this result to the provider.
Choice C rationale:
Iron level of 74 mcg/dL is within the normal range for a 9-month-old infant (50-120 mcg/dL) There is no need to report this result to the provider.
Choice D rationale:
Hematocrit level of 35% is within the normal range for a 9-month-old infant (29-41%) There is no need to report this result to the provider.
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