A nurse is preparing to administer desipramine 225 mg PO daily to a client who has depression. Available is desipramine 75 mg tablets. How many tablets should the nurse administer? (Round to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
tablet(s)

 

A. Ensuring fair distribution of resources: This statement describes the ethical principle of justice, which focuses on equity and the allocation of healthcare goods. It ensures that patients with similar needs receive similar care regardless of socioeconomic status. Autonomy specifically addresses individual agency rather than the societal distribution of medical resources or systemic fairness.

B. Respecting patients' rights to make their own decisions: Autonomy is the ethical obligation to recognize a patient's self-determination and liberty to choose their course of medical treatment. This principle requires nurses to provide informed consent and honor choices even when they conflict with provider recommendations. It protects the patient’s moral right to bodily integrity and personal values.

C. Keeping promises and commitments to patients: This definition refers to the principle of fidelity, which involves being faithful to the professional-patient relationship. It builds trust through the fulfillment of obligations and the maintenance of confidentiality and honesty. While essential for therapeutic rapport, it is distinct from the patient’s right to independent decision-making.

D. Acting in the best interest of the patient: This concept represents beneficence, the duty to perform actions that promote good and provide a benefit to others. While beneficence drives the nurse to advocate for health, it can sometimes conflict with autonomy if the patient refuses a beneficial treatment. Autonomy prioritizes the patient’s choice over the nurse's perception of best interest.

A. To replace private insurance with public insurance: While some policies deal with insurance expansion, the overall goal of health policy is not the elimination of private markets. Policy encompasses a wide range of regulations beyond insurance, including public health, safety standards, and professional licensing. The U.S. healthcare system remains a multi-payer model involving both private and public entities.

B. To increase the number of health care facilities: Building infrastructure is a physical manifestation of investment, but health policy focuses on the rules and standards governing those facilities. Policy ensures that any existing or new facility meets specific safety and quality benchmarks to protect the public. Increasing quantity without the oversight of policy does not necessarily lead to better health outcomes.

C. To improve health outcomes through laws and oversight: Health policy provides the legal and regulatory framework for the delivery of medical services and the protection of public health. This includes mandates for patient safety, environmental regulations, and the oversight of pharmaceutical agents to ensure efficacy. It serves as the systemic mechanism for directing resources toward the improvement of population health indicators.

D. To regulate nursing salaries: Professional compensation is generally determined by labor markets, individual facility budgets, and collective bargaining rather than broad health policy. While some policies affect funding for nursing education, they do not dictate the specific wages of individual practitioners. Health policy is primarily concerned with the quality, access, and cost-effectiveness of the entire healthcare system.