A nurse is completing an admission assessment on a client who has been transferred to the unit. The client has a history of falls and confusion. The nurse forgets to initiate any fall risk prevention as indicated by the hospital policy, and later during the shift, the client falls and sustains a wrist fracture. Which legal tort is the nurse at risk for from this situation?

Choice A reason:

A nurse advocate ensures that the voices of clients and their families are heard within the healthcare system. This includes communicating concerns, preferences, and values to other members of the healthcare team. Advocacy in this context is vital for addressing issues such as treatment plans, potential misunderstandings, and patient rights. When nurses take an active role in expressing client concerns, it fosters better collaboration among team members and leads to improved care outcomes. This task aligns with the core principles of advocacy, which focus on acting as a mediator for clients who may not feel empowered to voice their concerns independently.

Choice B reason:

Obtaining consent for procedures is not typically the direct role of a nurse advocate. While nurses play an essential part in explaining procedures and answering questions to support informed decision-making, the responsibility for obtaining informed consent usually lies with the healthcare provider performing the procedure. The nurse advocate's role in this situation would be to ensure that the client fully understands the procedure and its implications rather than formally securing consent.

Choice C reason:

Informing the healthcare team of a client’s do-not-resuscitate (DNR) status is a critical component of nurse advocacy. By doing so, the nurse ensures that the healthcare team is aware of and respects the client’s wishes. This step prevents unnecessary interventions that might conflict with the client’s preferences and aligns the care plan with ethical and legal standards. Acting as a link between the client’s directives and the healthcare team is a fundamental advocacy task.

Choice D reason:

While verifying client understanding of a procedure is an important nursing responsibility, it does not fall solely under the role of advocacy. This task is part of patient education and aligns with ensuring informed consent. Nurse advocates support the process but do not primarily focus on understanding verification. The distinction between education and advocacy roles is significant, and the nurse advocate concentrates on protecting patient rights and facilitating informed decision-making.

Choice E reason:

Ensuring that clients have all the information needed to make informed decisions is a central responsibility of a nurse advocate. Advocacy involves empowering clients by helping them understand their options, the potential risks and benefits of treatment, and alternative choices. This ensures that clients are active participants in their care, which is fundamental to respecting autonomy and delivering patient-centered care. By fulfilling this role, nurse advocates help clients navigate complex healthcare systems and make choices that align with their values and goals.

Choice A reason: This statement is incorrect because a mass casualty event refers to an incident that results in a large number of casualties, overwhelming the local healthcare system. A fight between visitors in the emergency department, although potentially serious, would not constitute a mass casualty event.

Choice B reason: This statement is incorrect because mass casualty events typically require a significant increase in the number of staff to manage the influx of patients and provide adequate care. Staffing levels are often augmented to ensure that the medical response can meet the demands of the situation.

Choice C reason: This statement is incorrect because mass casualty events are not limited to occurring within healthcare facilities. They can happen anywhere, such as at public events, natural disasters, or terrorist attacks, and involve a large number of casualties that overwhelm local medical resources.

Choice D reason: This statement is correct and does not indicate a need for further teaching. A mass casualty event is indeed characterized by overwhelming local medical capabilities, necessitating additional resources and support.

Choice E reason: This statement is correct and does not indicate a need for further teaching. Mass casualty events often require collaboration among multiple local agencies, such as emergency services, law enforcement, and healthcare providers, to effectively manage the situation.