A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a terminal illness and is considering palliative care services. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding?

Choice A reason: A sentinel event is a serious adverse event that results in death, permanent harm, or severe temporary harm to a patient. Administering incompatible blood products to a client is a sentinel event because it can cause fatal hemolytic reactions.

Choice B reason: Administering client medications 30 minutes late is not a sentinel event, unless it leads to a serious adverse outcome for the patient. Medication errors are common and preventable, and they should be reported and analyzed to improve patient safety.

Choice C reason: Documenting vital signs at the wrong time in the client’s electronic health record is not a sentinel event, unless it leads to a serious adverse outcome for the patient. Documentation errors are also common and preventable, and they should be corrected and avoided to ensure accurate and timely information.

Choice D reason: Administering a prescribed sedative to a client for insomnia is not a sentinel event, unless it leads to a serious adverse outcome for the patient. Sedatives are commonly used to treat insomnia, and they should be prescribed and administered with caution and monitoring⁵.

Choice A reason: Quality education is a value that is part of the NSNA code of ethics. According to the NSNA Core Values and Interpretative Statements, quality education is an act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for a profession. NSNA informs, prepares, and inspires members to develop continuous, lifelong learning and ethics of the profession.

Choice B reason: Safety is not a value that is part of the NSNA code of ethics, but a responsibility that is part of the NSNA Code of Academic and Clinical Conduct. According to this code, nursing students have a responsibility to promote the safety of clients, self, and others in academic and clinical settings. Safety is also a core value of nursing practice, but it is not explicitly stated in the NSNA code of ethics.

Choice C reason: Diversity is not a value that is part of the NSNA code of ethics, but a goal that is part of the NSNA Mission Statement. According to this statement, NSNA is committed to fostering the professional development of nursing students with a focus on diversity and inclusion. Diversity is also a principle that guides the NSNA Code of Professional Conduct, which states that nursing students should respect the diversity of clients, colleagues, faculty, and staff.

Choice D reason: Professionalism is a value that is part of the NSNA code of ethics. According to the NSNA Core Values and Interpretative Statements, professionalism is the characteristics that describe an individual striving to maintain the highest standards for one’s chosen path – honesty, integrity, responsibility and conducting oneself with responsibility, integrity, accountability, and excellence. As NSNA members, it is important to create a culture of professionalism in our organization and to uphold the values of professionalism in order to conduct ourselves and our organization in the most respectful, honest way.

Choice E reason: Advocacy is a value that is part of the NSNA code of ethics. According to the NSNA Core Values and Interpretative Statements, advocacy is an activity or process to work on behalf of self and/or others to raise awareness of a concern and to promote solutions to the issue. The nursing profession is based on advocating for patients and families in order to help facilitate the healing process; NSNA serves as an advocate for nursing students by representing them as one united voice.

Choice F reason: Confidentiality is a value that is part of the NSNA code of ethics. According to the NSNA Code of Professional Conduct, nursing students should protect the privacy and confidentiality of clients, colleagues, faculty, and staff. Confidentiality is also a principle that guides the NSNA Code of Academic and Clinical Conduct, which states that nursing students should maintain client confidentiality in verbal, written, and electronic forms.