A nurse is preparing to administer lactated Ringer's 1,500 mL IV to infuse at 50 mL/hr. The drop factor of the manual IV tubing is 15 gtt/mL. The nurse should set the manual IV infusion to deliver how many gtt/min? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

Proceed with provision of medical care.

• A. Contact the facility's ethics committee: This is incorrect because it is not an urgent action and it does not address the client's immediate needs. The ethics committee can be consulted later if there are ethical dilemmas or conflicts regarding the client's care.
• B. Obtain consent from the client's employer: This is incorrect because it is not a valid source of consent. The employer has no legal or ethical authority to make decisions for the client, unless they are also a designated surrogate or proxy.
• C. Limit care to comfort measures: This is incorrect because it does not meet the standard of care for an emergency situation. The nurse has a duty to provide life-saving interventions for a client who is unconscious and requires emergency medical procedures, unless there is evidence of a valid advance directive that states otherwise.
• D. Proceed with provision of medical care: This is correct because it follows the principle of implied consent, which assumes that a reasonable person would consent to emergency treatment if they were able to do so. The nurse should document the circumstances and continue to search for family members or other sources of consent.

Choice A rationale:

Telling the client, "It's not your choice to be here, so you have to accept the treatment we plan for you," disregards the client's autonomy and right to make decisions about their own healthcare. In mental health settings, respecting a patient's autonomy and involving them in the decision-making process is crucial for ethical care. This statement does not address the client's fear or provide any reassurance.

Choice B rationale:

Choice C rationale:

Asking, "Why do you think your provider will prescribe you medications that will make you sleep?" attempts to explore the client's fear, but it may come across as dismissive or invalidating. It could make the client feel unheard or misunderstood, which is not ideal in this situation.

Choice D rationale:

Stating, "I will make sure that we respect your right to refuse medications," is the most appropriate response. It acknowledges the client's fear and reassures them that their autonomy will be respected. It opens the door for a discussion about the client's concerns, allowing them to express their fears and preferences. Respecting the client's right to refuse medications is fundamental to ethical nursing practice and patient-centered care.