A nurse manager is leading a discussion about ethical dilemmas. Which of the following situations should the nurse manager include as an example of an ethical dilemma?

a. A visitor experiences a minor burn after spilling coffee:

This situation does not present an ethical dilemma. It is a minor accident that can be addressed through appropriate first aid and safety measures.

b. A parent wants her 14-year-old adolescent to receive radiation treatment against his will:

This situation involves a conflict between parental authority and the autonomy of the adolescent. It raises questions about the adolescent's capacity to make medical decisions, the role of parental consent, and the rights of the adolescent to refuse treatment. Therefore, it represents an ethical dilemma.

c. A nurse witnesses another nurse administer an incorrect medication:

While this situation involves patient safety and professional responsibility, it does not inherently pose an ethical dilemma. It is a matter of patient safety and adherence to professional standards rather than conflicting moral principles.

d. A client receives an operation on the wrong side of her body:

This situation represents a serious medical error and a violation of patient safety protocols. While it may have ethical implications related to accountability, negligence, and patient harm, it primarily involves issues of medical error rather than a true ethical dilemma.

a. Recommend the AP come back later when the record is available:

This option delays the documentation process unnecessarily and may inconvenience the AP.

It doesn't address the issue of maintaining patient confidentiality and accurate documentation.

b. Log out so the AP can log in to document the vital signs:

This is the correct choice as it ensures that each individual's documentation is attributed to the correct user.

It maintains patient confidentiality and adheres to HIPAA regulations.

It allows the AP to complete their task efficiently while preserving the integrity of the electronic record.

c. Offer to chart the vital signs for the AP:

This option involves the nurse taking over the responsibility of documenting the vital signs for the AP, which could lead to confusion and potential errors.

It's not the most appropriate solution as it may not be feasible for the nurse to document the vital signs accurately without directly measuring them.

d. Allow the AP to document the vital signs prior to logging out:

Allowing the AP to document vital signs under the nurse's login compromises the integrity of the electronic record and violates HIPAA regulations.

It's not an acceptable practice as it can lead to inaccuracies in the documentation and compromises patient confidentiality.