An appropriate nursing diagnosis for the family of a client dying of cancer whose members have expressed sorrow over the forthcoming loss would be

Choice A rationale

Negligence is the failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in similar circumstances. While administering the wrong medication is a breach of duty, legal charges of negligence might not fully capture the severity of a serious untoward reaction resulting from a medication error by a professional.

Choice B rationale

Malpractice is a specific type of negligence committed by a professional, such as a nurse, in the performance of their professional duties. Administering the wrong medication, leading to a serious adverse reaction, falls under the scope of professional nursing practice and can be considered a breach of the professional standard of care, thus potentially leading to charges of malpractice.

Choice C rationale

Assault is an intentional act that creates a reasonable apprehension of immediate harmful or offensive contact. Administering medication, even the wrong one, is usually not intended to cause apprehension of harm in the way assault is legally defined.

Choice D rationale

Battery is the intentional touching of another person without consent. While administering the wrong medication involves touching without consent, the more appropriate legal charge in a professional healthcare setting where harm results from a breach of duty is typically malpractice. .

Choice A rationale

Before delegating any nursing task, the nurse must first determine if the action is permissible under the state's nurse practice act and the employing agency's policies. These regulations define the scope of practice for nurses and the tasks that can be safely and legally delegated to unlicensed personnel. If delegation is not allowed by these governing bodies, the subsequent questions become irrelevant.

Choice B rationale

While it is crucial to ensure that the UAP has been adequately trained and is competent to perform the delegated task safely and correctly, this consideration comes after establishing the legality and permissibility of the delegation according to the nurse practice act and agency policy. Training is important for safe implementation but not the initial determining factor.

Choice C rationale

Appropriate supervision is necessary when delegating tasks to UAPs to ensure client safety and provide guidance. However, the ability to delegate the task itself must first be established by legal and policy guidelines. Supervision is a component of safe delegation but not the primary question determining if delegation is even an option.

Choice D rationale

Evaluating the client's past response to a treatment might inform how the task is performed or any specific observations needed, but it does not determine the fundamental question of whether the task can be delegated to a UAP in the first place. Legal and policy frameworks dictate the scope of delegation, regardless of the client's history. .