A nurse is educating a newly licensed nurse about informed consent.
Which of the following should be included as a nurse’s responsibility in this process?

Choice A rationale
Holding the pain medication until the patient wakes up is not the best choice. Pain can disrupt sleep, and it’s important to keep the patient as comfortable as possible. If the patient is sleeping, it may be because the pain is well-controlled, and delaying the medication could lead to a return of pain.
Choice B rationale
The patient should be given the scheduled pain medication. This is the best choice because it ensures that the patient’s pain is managed effectively. Even if the patient is sleeping, the medication should be given to prevent the pain from returning.
Choice C rationale
Calling the family and asking if the patient would like to be woken up to have their pain medication is not the best choice. The nurse should make this decision based on the patient’s pain level and the medication schedule, not on the family’s preferences.
Choice D rationale
The statement that the patient has become addicted to the medication and is sleeping the last dose off is not accurate. Addiction is a complex condition characterized by compulsive drug use despite harmful consequences. In this case, the patient is receiving the medication for a legitimate medical reason, and there is no indication of addiction.

Choice A rationale
Mottling of the skin, especially in the lower extremities, is a common sign of impending death. This is due to decreased blood flow and can be a sign that the body is starting to shut down.
Choice B rationale
This statement is incorrect. As a person nears death, their blood pressure typically decreases, not increases.
Choice C rationale
Cheyne-Stokes breathing, which is characterized by a pattern of increasing and decreasing respiration with periods of apnea, is a common symptom in the final stages of life.
Choice D rationale
This statement is incorrect. As a person nears death, their skin may become cool to the touch and may appear pale or mottled.
Choice E rationale
Regular respiration is not typically a sign of impending death. In fact, changes in breathing patterns, such as Cheyne-Stokes breathing, are more common.