The client states “I can’t go on anymore.
Life sucks and the world would be better off without me.” What is the RN’s best response?

Illness in one family member can affect the other family members. This is because family-centered nursing care recognizes that the family is the basic unit of society and that each member's health influences the whole family's health. Family-centered nursing care also involves collaborating with the family to provide care that meets their needs, preferences, and values.

Choice A is wrong because the nurse does not provide family-centered nursing care to avoid the client’s loneliness. Loneliness is a psychosocial need, not a physiologic one, and it can be addressed by other means than involving the family.

Choice B is wrong because the client’s compliance with medical instructions is not the primary goal of family-centered nursing care. Compliance is influenced by many factors, such as motivation, education, culture, and trust, and it may not always depend on the family’s involvement.

Choice C is wrong because the family’s willingness to listen to instructions is not the main reason for providing family-centered nursing care. The nurse should respect the family’s autonomy and decision-making, and not impose instructions that may conflict with their beliefs or values.

It is a legal record of accountability for the protection of the client and the nurse. This means that documentation provides evidence of the assessments and interventions that have been undertaken by the nurse and can be used to defend the nurse in case of a lawsuit or a complaint. Documentation also supports the provision of safe, high-quality patient care by facilitating continuity of care and communication among health care providers.

Choice B is wrong because it is incomplete and misleading. Documentation supports confidentiality and privacy, but it should never be shared without the client’s consent or a legal authority.

Choice C is wrong because it is too narrow. Documentation provides continuous reference for all care providers to refer to, but it also has other purposes such as quality improvement, research, education and legal protection.

Choice D is wrong because it is inaccurate. Documentation does not provide a framework for clients rights, but rather reflects how the nurse respects and upholds those rights in practice. Documentation also records if clients rights are violated, but this is not the main rationale for documentation.