A nurse is caring for a patient who has made racist remarks towards a fellow patient. According to nursing ethics, what action should the nurse take?

Notify the healthcare provider and seek guidance on the appropriate course of action.

In nursing ethics, the preservation of life and the duty to protect the patient's well-being are paramount. When a patient expresses a desire to end their life, the nurse should notify the healthcare provider and seek guidance on how to address the situation. This ensures that the appropriate ethical and legal considerations are followed in supporting the patient's well-being.

• Option a goes against the principle of preserving life and disregards the potential risks and consequences of assisted suicide.

• Option c emphasizes autonomy, but it should be balanced with the nurse's responsibility to protect life and provide appropriate care.

• Option d may be appropriate in certain situations, but the immediate concern is to ensure the patient's safety and involve the healthcare provider.

Report the incident to the nurse manager or appropriate authority.

Nursing ethics require nurses to uphold professional standards and report any unethical or illegal activities observed in the workplace. Witnessing a coworker taking controlled substances without proper documentation is a serious breach of ethical and legal standards. The nurse's responsibility is to report the incident to the appropriate authority, such as the nurse manager or a designated reporting mechanism, to ensure patient safety and maintain the integrity of the profession.

• Option a may not be appropriate or effective, as it can potentially escalate the situation and compromise the nurse's own safety.

• Option b disregards the responsibility to promote patient safety and maintain professional integrity.

• Option d assumes the nurse has the ability to convince the coworker to change their behavior, which may not be realistic or within the nurse's role.