A nurse is discharging two clients from the hospital to their homes. The client with insurance will receive supplies to take home and the one without insurance will need to pick up supplies at the local community health department. The nurse should recognize that this is a breach of which of the following ethical principles?

Choice A reason: A 10-year budget is impractical for cost containment, as healthcare costs fluctuate due to economic and technological changes. Long-term budgets lack flexibility for staffing or equipment needs, making them ineffective for ensuring cost-effective care delivery in dynamic healthcare environments.
Choice B reason: Hiring travel nurses increases costs due to high salaries and agency fees compared to permanent staff. While addressing short-term shortages, it does not promote long-term savings, as temporary labor is expensive, contrasting with strategies like workforce planning for cost containment.
Choice C reason: Reducing training programs may lower short-term costs but risks errors and lawsuits, increasing long-term expenses. Well-trained staff improve efficiency and outcomes, reducing readmissions. Training is critical for cost containment, as it enhances care quality in healthcare settings.
Choice D reason: Electronic health records (EHRs) reduce long-term costs by streamlining documentation and improving care coordination. EHRs enhance billing accuracy and reduce errors, offsetting initial costs with decreased administrative burdens and better patient outcomes, aligning with evidence-based cost containment strategies in healthcare.

Choice A reason: An HbA1c of 7.2% in type 1 diabetes indicates suboptimal control but is not an acute emergency. This client requires follow-up but is stable compared to life-threatening conditions, so they are not require immediate assessment, making this incorrect for prioritization.
Choice B reason: New-onset tachypnea in a hip fracture client suggests a life-threatening issue like pulmonary embolism, a common complication due to immobility. This requires immediate assessment to ensure airway and circulatory stability, aligning with ABC priorities, making it the correct first action for the nurse to take.
Choice C reason: Sinus arrhythmia is typically benign, especially with cardiac monitoring in place. It does not indicate an immediate threat compared to respiratory distress, so this client can be assessed later, making this incorrect for first priority assessment.
Choice D reason: Chest pain in a hypertensive client is concerning for cardiac issues, but tachypnea in a hip fracture suggests a more acute, potentially fatal condition like pulmonary embolism. Respiratory distress takes precedence, so this is incorrect for immediate assessment.