A terminal patient asks the nurse if he could be given a deliberate overdose of medication that would "end this." According to the Code for Nurses, the nurse's most ethical response would be:
"Bringing on your death in this manner would be a subject you should discuss with your family and primary care provider."
"Let me have a while to consider your request."
"I cannot ethically give you a deliberate overdose."
"I can contact the primary care provider and request an order for a drug that could be used as you request"
The Correct Answer is C
"Bringing on your death in this manner would be a subject you should discuss with your family and primary care provider" (Option A): While discussing end-of-life wishes with family and healthcare providers is important, this response does not directly address the ethical issue at hand. It may be appropriate to encourage open communication and advance care planning, but administering a deliberate overdose is not ethically permissible.
"Let me have a while to consider your request" (Option B): Delaying a response to the patient's request for deliberate overdose could potentially lead to confusion and distress for the patient. Additionally, this response does not address the ethical concerns raised by the request.
"I cannot ethically give you a deliberate overdose" (Option C): This response aligns with the ethical principle of nonmaleficence, which obligates healthcare providers to avoid causing harm to patients. Administering a deliberate overdose to hasten death would violate this principle and go against the nurse's ethical obligations.
"I can contact the primary care provider and request an order for a drug that could be used as you request" (Option D): This response suggests a willingness to facilitate the patient's request for deliberate overdose, which is not ethically permissible. Administering a drug with the intention of ending a patient's life is contrary to the ethical principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is E
Explanation
The statement "My family will be fine after I'm gone" reflects a sense of acceptance of the situation and an acknowledgment of the inevitability of death. Here's how it correlates with Kübler-Ross's stages of dying:
Anger (Option A): Anger is characterized by feelings of frustration, resentment, and hostility. The statement does not express any anger towards the situation or others; instead, it conveys a sense of resignation and acceptance.
Depression (Option B): Depression involves feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair. While the statement could potentially be interpreted as reflecting sadness about leaving loved ones behind, it primarily conveys a sense of acceptance rather than depression.
Denial (Option C): Denial involves refusing to accept the reality of the situation. The statement provided does not reflect denial as it acknowledges the reality of the individual's impending death rather than denying it.
Bargaining (Option D): Bargaining involves attempting to negotiate with a higher power or others to change the outcome of the situation. The statement does not reflect bargaining as it does not involve any attempt to change the inevitable outcome of death.
Acceptance (Option E): Acceptance is the final stage in Kübler-Ross's model and involves coming to terms with one's impending death. The statement "My family will be fine after I'm gone" suggests that the individual has accepted their fate and believes that their loved ones will be able to cope without them. Therefore, this behavior correlates most closely with the stage of acceptance.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Administering morphine can help decrease pain associated with dyspnea, but the primary goal in this scenario is to address the dyspnea itself rather than pain specifically.
B. While morphine can help dry up secretions to some extent, its primary action in this context is to alleviate dyspnea by reducing respiratory effort and rate.
C. Morphine is commonly used in palliative care to relieve dyspnea by depressing the respiratory center in the brain, leading to a decrease in respiratory rate and effort. This helps alleviate the sensation of breathlessness and discomfort associated with dyspnea.
D. Administering morphine in small doses for dyspnea relief is not intended to hasten death but rather to provide comfort and relief from distressing symptoms at the end of life. The goal is to improve quality of life rather than hastening death.
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