A nurse is caring for a client who is in labor and observes late decelerations on the electronic fetal monitor.
Which of the following is the first action the nurse should take?

Choice A rationale

A democratic nurse leader consistently works to share leadership with the group. This leadership style is characterized by collaborative decision-making, where the leader involves team members in discussions and seeks their input. This fosters a sense of ownership, increases motivation, and leverages the collective intelligence of the group.

Choice B rationale

Moving the group toward the leader's goals is characteristic of a more autocratic or directive leadership style. A democratic leader, conversely, aims to establish shared goals through group consensus, ensuring that the team feels invested in and committed to the objectives they helped to shape.

Choice C rationale

Making little or no attempt to move the group is indicative of a laissez-faire leadership style, where the leader provides minimal guidance and allows the group to largely self-direct. This differs significantly from democratic leadership, which actively facilitates participation and guides the group through collaborative processes.

Choice D rationale

Dampening creativity is typically associated with autocratic or overly rigid leadership styles that stifle individual input and innovative thinking. Democratic leadership, by contrast, encourages open communication and diverse perspectives, thereby promoting and enhancing creativity within the team.

Choice A rationale

Brain death is a clinical diagnosis characterized by irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brainstem. If the client's heart is still beating and they can breathe on their own, it indicates preserved brainstem function, which is inconsistent with brain death criteria.

Choice B rationale

Brain death is defined as irreversible cessation of all brain functions. When a client is on life support, but their brain has sustained irreversible damage with complete loss of brainstem reflexes, they meet the criteria for brain death, allowing for organ donation consideration.

Choice C rationale

A client able to respond to stimuli and communicate with others exhibits clear signs of brain activity and consciousness. This directly contradicts the definition of brain death, which requires complete and irreversible loss of all brain function, including higher cortical functions.

Choice D rationale

While vital organs may eventually cease functioning after brain death, the initial and primary criterion for brain death is the irreversible cessation of brain function. The vital organs can often be maintained on life support for a period to facilitate organ donation, so they are not necessarily non-functioning.