A nurse is caring a client who is unconscious and whose partner is their health care surrogate. The partner wishes to discontinue the client’s feeding tube, but another family member tells the nurse that they want the client to continue receiving treatment. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

a. Document in the client’s chart that an incident report has been filed:

Documenting that an incident report has been filed is an important step in the process of addressing the client's complaint. It ensures that there is a record of the incident and initiates the appropriate follow-up procedures.

b. Call risk management to interview the client:

In long-term care facilities, risk management departments are responsible for investigating incidents and ensuring that appropriate measures are taken to prevent future occurrences. In this situation, involving risk management may be necessary to conduct a thorough investigation.

c. Contact the nurse manager:

The nurse manager is responsible for overseeing the nursing staff and ensuring that quality care is provided to clients. Contacting the nurse manager allows for immediate notification of the incident and enables them to initiate the appropriate steps to address the situation.

d. Reassure the client that the staff is well trained:

While it's important to provide reassurance to the client, simply reassuring them without taking any further action may not adequately address their concerns or prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

a. A visitor experiences a minor burn after spilling coffee:

This situation does not present an ethical dilemma. It is a minor accident that can be addressed through appropriate first aid and safety measures.

b. A parent wants her 14-year-old adolescent to receive radiation treatment against his will:

This situation involves a conflict between parental authority and the autonomy of the adolescent. It raises questions about the adolescent's capacity to make medical decisions, the role of parental consent, and the rights of the adolescent to refuse treatment. Therefore, it represents an ethical dilemma.

c. A nurse witnesses another nurse administer an incorrect medication:

While this situation involves patient safety and professional responsibility, it does not inherently pose an ethical dilemma. It is a matter of patient safety and adherence to professional standards rather than conflicting moral principles.

d. A client receives an operation on the wrong side of her body:

This situation represents a serious medical error and a violation of patient safety protocols. While it may have ethical implications related to accountability, negligence, and patient harm, it primarily involves issues of medical error rather than a true ethical dilemma.