A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a 16-year-old client who reports abdominal pain and is accompanied by an adult neighbor. The provider diagnoses a ruptured appendix and states that the client requires an emergency appendectomy. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Witness the client signing the consent form.

Ask the adult neighbor to sign the consent form.

Obtain consent from the hospital administrator.

Attempt to notify the client's guardian to obtain consent.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

Choice A reason: This is not the correct choice because witnessing the client signing the consent form is not a valid option. The client is a minor and cannot legally consent to their own treatment without the permission of their guardian, unless they are emancipated, married, or pregnant.

Choice B reason: This is not the correct choice because asking the adult neighbor to sign the consent form is not a valid option. The adult neighbor is not a legal guardian or a close relative of the client and has no authority to consent to the client's treatment.

Choice C reason: This is not the correct choice because obtaining consent from the hospital administrator is not a valid option. The hospital administrator is not a medical professional or a legal representative of the client and has no authority to consent to the client's treatment.

Choice D reason: This is the correct choice because attempting to notify the client's guardian to obtain consent is the best option. The client's guardian is the person who has the legal right and responsibility to make decisions for the client's health care. The nurse should try to contact the guardian by phone or other means and obtain verbal or written consent for the emergency surgery. If the guardian cannot be reached, the nurse should follow the facility's policy and procedure for obtaining consent in emergency situations.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: Contacting the client's next of kin to obtain consent for treatment is not a correct action, as it may delay the necessary and urgent care for the client. The nurse should assume that the client would consent to life-saving treatment and act in the client's best interest.

Choice B reason: Proceeding with treatment without obtaining written consent is the correct action, as it is justified by the emergency doctrine. The nurse should provide immediate and appropriate care for the client who is unable to give consent due to their condition.

Choice C reason: Having the client sign a consent for treatment is not a correct action, as the client is disoriented and cannot give informed consent. The nurse should not ask the client to sign any documents that they may not understand or remember.

Choice D reason: Notifying risk management before initiating treatment is not a correct action, as it is not a priority in an emergency situation. The nurse should focus on the client's needs and safety and document the care provided and the rationale for the actions taken.

A. Inform the client that she cannot leave without a discharge prescription from the provider. B. Ask the client if she would like a sedative to help her relax. C. Assign a security officer to the client's room until the provider can speak with the client. D. Have the client sign the Against Medical Advice form.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A reason: This is not the correct choice because this action is not legally required or ethically appropriate. The client has the right to refuse treatment and leave the hospital at any time, as long as she is competent and informed of the risks and consequences. The nurse should not coerce or threaten the client to stay against her will.

Choice B reason: This is not the correct choice because this action is not helpful or respectful. The client may have valid reasons for wanting to go home, such as personal or financial issues. The nurse should not assume that the client is anxious or irrational and offer her a sedative, which may impair her judgment and consent.

Choice C reason: This is not the correct choice because this action is not necessary or professional. The client is not a threat to herself or others, and does not need to be restrained or guarded by a security officer. The nurse should not use intimidation or force to prevent the client from leaving.

Choice D reason: This is the correct choice because this action is the best practice and the standard procedure. The nurse should explain to the client the benefits of staying and the risks of leaving, and document the conversation. The nurse should also ask the client to sign the Against Medical Advice form, which states that the client understands the implications of her decision and releases the hospital and the provider from liability.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a 16-year-old client who reports abdominal pain and is accompanied by an adult neighbor. The provider diagnoses a ruptured appendix and states that the client requires an emergency appendectomy. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse in the emergency department is preparing to care for a client who arrived via ambulance. The client is disoriented and has a cardiac arrhythmia. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a client who has been admitted and diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus. The client tells the nurse she has decided to go home. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A charge nurse in the emergency department is supervising a nurse who is floating from the medical-surgical unit. Which of the following assignments is appropriate for the float nurse?

A case manager is preparing a discharge plan for a client following coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Which of the following client issues should the nurse address first?

A nurse is planning to discharge a client who has terminal cancer and suggests that the family might benefit from respite services. When the client's partner asks how this service can help, which of the following responses by the nurse is appropriate?

A nurse is speaking with a visitor who asks a question about the status of a relative who is a client on the unit. Which of the following responses by the nurse is appropriate?

A nurse is delegating tasks to an assistive personnel (AP). Which of the following tasks should the nurse assign to the AP?

A nurse working on a medical-surgical unit is managing the care of four clients. The nurse should schedule an interdisciplinary conference for which of the following clients?

A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of chlamydia. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A nurse is preparing to transfer a client from the emergency department to a medical-surgical unit using the SBAR Communication tool. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the background portion of the report?