A nurse is caring for a patient who is terminally ill and in severe pain. According to ethical principles in nursing, which action is most appropriate?

Report the patient's concerns to the appropriate authority for investigation.

Ethical principles in nursing include advocating for patient rights and safety. If a patient expresses concerns about a specific healthcare provider, the nurse's responsibility is to report those concerns to the appropriate authority for investigation. This ensures that patient safety is prioritized and any potential issues are addressed appropriately.

• Option a dismisses the patient's concerns and does not address the potential underlying issues.

• Option c disregards the importance of addressing patient concerns and potential risks to patient safety.

• Option d does not respect the patient's right to choose and may not adequately address their concerns.

Assessing the patient's pain level and advocating for appropriate pain management.

Ethical principles in nursing emphasize the importance of providing optimal care and relieving suffering. In this situation, the nurse's role is to assess the patient's pain level, advocate for appropriate pain management, and collaborate with the healthcare provider to ensure the patient's comfort. This upholds the principle of beneficence by promoting the patient's well-being and ensuring their pain is adequately addressed.

• Option a may be unsafe and inappropriate without consulting the healthcare provider for appropriate medication dosing.

• Option c neglects the patient's right to pain relief and prioritizes potential risks over the patient's well-being.

• Option d is unethical as it involves deception and undermines the trust between the nurse and the patient.