A nurse is performing screening assessments for active older adult clients at a community clinic. Which of the following tests should the nurse include in the screening?

Choice A Reason:
Using short, simple sentences is an effective communication strategy for clients experiencing moderate anxiety. Anxiety can impair cognitive processing, making it difficult for clients to understand complex information. By using clear and concise language, the nurse can help the client better comprehend what to expect after the cardiac catheterization. This approach reduces the client's anxiety by providing information in a manageable format.

Choice B Reason:
Showing a 30-minute teaching video might be overwhelming for a client with moderate anxiety. While visual aids can be helpful, the length and complexity of the video could increase the client's anxiety rather than alleviate it. It is important to tailor the educational approach to the client's current emotional state, ensuring that the information is presented in a way that is easy to understand and not overwhelming.

Choice C Reason:
Providing detailed explanations can be counterproductive for a client with moderate anxiety. Detailed information might overwhelm the client, leading to increased anxiety and difficulty in processing the information. Instead, the nurse should focus on delivering key points in a clear and concise manner, ensuring that the client understands the most important aspects of the procedure and what to expect afterward.

Choice D Reason:
Avoiding questions is not an effective strategy for client education. Asking questions allows the nurse to assess the client's understanding and address any concerns or misconceptions. Engaging the client in a dialogue helps to build rapport and ensures that the client feels supported and informed. It is important to create an open and interactive environment where the client feels comfortable asking questions and expressing concerns.

Choice A Reason:
Autonomy refers to respecting the client's right to make their own decisions about their healthcare. By supporting the client's refusal of medications, the nurse is acknowledging the client's right to self-determination and informed consent. This principle is fundamental in healthcare ethics, as it empowers clients to take control of their own treatment and make choices that align with their values and preferences. Respecting autonomy involves providing the client with all necessary information to make an informed decision and supporting their choice, even if it differs from the healthcare provider's recommendation.

Choice B Reason:
Justice in healthcare refers to fairness and equality in the distribution of resources and treatment. While justice is an important ethical principle, it is not directly related to the nurse's support of the client's refusal of medications. Justice would be more relevant in ensuring that all clients have equal access to care and that resources are allocated fairly. In this scenario, the focus is on the client's individual right to make decisions about their own treatment.

Choice C Reason:
Veracity refers to truthfulness and honesty in communication between healthcare providers and clients. While veracity is crucial in building trust and ensuring informed consent, it is not the primary ethical principle at play when supporting a client's refusal of medication. Veracity would involve providing accurate information about the benefits and risks of the medication, but the act of supporting the client's decision is more closely aligned with the principle of autonomy.

Choice D Reason:
Beneficence involves acting in the best interest of the client and promoting their well-being. While beneficence is a key ethical principle in healthcare, it can sometimes conflict with autonomy. In this case, the nurse may believe that taking the medication is in the client's best interest (beneficence), but the client has the right to refuse treatment (autonomy). Supporting the client's decision respects their autonomy, even if it means not following what the nurse believes to be the best course of action for the client's health.