A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving enteral feedings via an NG tube.
The client has developed hyperosmolar dehydration.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take when administering the client's feedings?

Choice A rationale:

Fidelity refers to the principle of being loyal, faithful, and keeping promises. It does not specifically relate to providing accurate information about treatment effects. In this scenario, the nurse is discussing the potential adverse effects of a treatment, which falls under the domain of providing accurate and truthful information to the client.

Choice B rationale:

Beneficence is the ethical principle of doing good and promoting the well-being of the patient. While educating the client about potential adverse effects is a form of beneficence, the specific principle demonstrated in this scenario is veracity, which is the duty to tell the truth. The nurse is being truthful about the potential side effect (lightheadedness) while clarifying that it should not affect memory.

Choice C rationale:

Veracity is the ethical principle of truth-telling. In this scenario, the nurse is demonstrating veracity by providing honest and accurate information to the client about the potential adverse effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation. By being truthful, the nurse upholds the ethical principle of veracity.

Choice D rationale:

Autonomy refers to the principle of respecting the patient's right to make decisions about their own healthcare. While respecting autonomy is important, the nurse's action in this scenario specifically pertains to providing accurate information (veracity) rather than solely focusing on the client's decision-making autonomy.

• A is incorrect because assessing the apical pulse while the newborn is crying can result in an inaccurate measurement due to increased heart rate and respiratory rate.
• B is incorrect because palpating the radial pulse for 30 seconds is not appropriate for a newborn as it can be difficult to locate and count accurately.
• C is incorrect because listening to the apical pulse while palpating the radial pulse is not necessary for a newborn and can be confusing and time-consuming.
• D is correct because auscultating the apical pulse at least 1 min is the best way to assess a newborn's heart rate as it provides an accurate and reliable measurement.