A nurse must make a decision regarding confidentiality when a client confides about minor illegal activity. What is the best ethical action for the nurse?
Ignore the comments as they are irrelevant.
Report the activity to the authorities regardless.
Inform family members to resolve the issue.
Maintain confidentiality as the activity is minor and does not pose harm.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A reason: Ignoring the comments is dismissive and non-therapeutic. While the activity may be minor, any disclosure by a client is an opportunity for clinical exploration. However, simply ignoring it does not address the underlying ethical obligation of confidentiality or the potential impact on the nurse-client relationship.
Choice B reason: Reporting minor illegal activity to authorities without a legal mandate or immediate threat of harm violates the client's right to privacy and the ethical principle of fidelity. Mandatory reporting is generally reserved for situations involving child abuse, elder abuse, or a clear "duty to warn" regarding serious physical violence.
Choice C reason: Informing family members without the client's explicit consent is a breach of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Family involvement is encouraged in many mental health settings, but it cannot come at the expense of the client’s autonomy and right to private communication.
Choice D reason: The nurse should maintain confidentiality because the therapeutic relationship relies on trust. Since the activity is minor and does not involve an immediate risk of harm to the client or others, the ethical duty to protect the client's private information outweighs the social obligation to report minor legal infractions.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic that functions as a dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT2A receptor antagonist. By modulating these neurotransmitter pathways, it effectively diminishes positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as auditory hallucinations and delusional paranoia, which are the primary therapeutic targets for achieving clinical stabilization and safety.
Choice B reason: Significant weight loss is not a desired therapeutic outcome of risperidone; in fact, the medication is frequently associated with metabolic side effects, including significant weight gain, hyperlipidemia, and increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Monitoring metabolic parameters is a standard nursing intervention during treatment with atypical antipsychotics.
Choice C reason: While risperidone may have some sedative properties that could incidentally help with sleep, the absence of a need for sleep medication is not the specific clinical indicator used to determine if the antipsychotic is successfully treating the underlying primary symptoms of the client's schizophrenic disorder.
Choice D reason: Increased energy and hyperactivity are not desired outcomes and could actually indicate a worsening of symptoms or the development of adverse effects like akathisia. The goal of risperidone is to achieve behavioral stability and symptom reduction rather than inducing a state of heightened psychomotor activity or agitation.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Respecting patient decisions is the definition of the principle of autonomy. In mental health, this involves honoring a client's right to refuse certain treatments or participate in their care plan, provided they have the legal capacity and are not an immediate danger to themselves or others.
Choice B reason: Providing truthful information is the definition of the principle of veracity. This involves being honest about diagnoses, the potential side effects of medications, and the reality of the treatment process to ensure that the patient is fully informed and not misled by the healthcare team.
Choice C reason: Treating all patients equally and ensuring fair distribution of resources is the definition of the principle of justice. This principle mandates that care should not be biased by a patient's background, financial status, or the nature of their specific mental health diagnosis.
Choice D reason: Beneficence is the ethical duty to "do good" and act in the best interest of the patient. In psychiatric nursing, this means taking positive actions to promote mental health, alleviate suffering, and implement interventions that directly contribute to the patient’s recovery and overall holistic well-being.
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