The nurse is caring for a client whose intravenous (IV) pump continues to alarm even after trying to fix it on multiple occasions. The client is becoming increasingly frustrated with the constant beeping. What action should the nurse take next?

Place the IV infusion to gravity.

Ask the client to ignore the beeping.

Discontinue the IV infusion.

Replace the IV infusion pump.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

Choice A reason:
Placing an IV infusion to gravity bypasses the safety mechanisms built into an IV pump, such as controlled flow rates and occlusion detection. This action increases the risk of rapid infusion, fluid overload, or medication errors. It is unsafe and inappropriate without a specific provider order and proper monitoring.

Choice B reason:
Asking the client to ignore the beeping dismisses the client’s distress and fails to address a malfunctioning medical device. Alarms indicate a problem that requires intervention to ensure patient safety. Ignoring alarms violates safe nursing practice and can lead to serious adverse outcomes.

Choice C reason:
Discontinuing the IV infusion may interrupt essential therapy such as fluids, medications, or electrolytes. Unless the IV is no longer prescribed or is causing harm, stopping the infusion without addressing the equipment issue is inappropriate and may negatively affect the client’s treatment plan.

Choice D reason:
A persistently alarming IV pump despite troubleshooting suggests equipment malfunction. Replacing the IV infusion pump resolves the issue while maintaining prescribed therapy and ensuring accurate, safe delivery. This action prioritizes both client safety and comfort and is the most appropriate next step

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason:
This option reflects the ethical principle of fidelity, which refers to faithfulness, loyalty, and keeping commitments made to clients. Fidelity emphasizes maintaining trust, honoring promises, and being truthful in professional relationships. While fidelity is essential to ethical nursing practice, it does not specifically address the prevention of harm. Therefore, this choice does not best define the obligation to avoid causing harm to a client.

Choice B reason:
This option corresponds to the ethical principle of justice, which focuses on fairness, equity, and the appropriate distribution of resources among clients and populations. Justice ensures that all clients receive impartial and equal treatment regardless of personal characteristics or social status. Although justice is a core ethical principle, it is centered on fairness rather than the direct prevention of harm, making it an incorrect choice for this question.

Choice C reason:
This option accurately represents the ethical principle of nonmaleficence. Nonmaleficence is defined as the obligation to avoid causing harm, injury, or unnecessary suffering to clients. In nursing practice, this principle guides clinicians to carefully evaluate interventions, anticipate potential risks, and avoid actions that could negatively impact client safety or well-being. Because the question specifically asks about the obligation to avoid harm, this is the most accurate and correct answer.

Choice D reason:
This option reflects the ethical principle of beneficence, which involves taking positive actions to promote good, support client welfare, and improve health outcomes. Beneficence encourages nurses to act in the best interest of the client by providing compassionate and beneficial care. However, beneficence is distinct from nonmaleficence, as it focuses on doing good rather than specifically avoiding harm. For this reason, it is not the best answer to the question.

A. Nonmaleficence B. Autonomy C. Beneficence D. Justice

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason:
Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle of "do no harm." Chemotherapy illustrates this principle because, while it offers potential benefits (curing cancer), it also produces significant side effects and discomfort. Nurses must weigh the potential harm against the anticipated benefit when administering such treatment and ensure clients are informed about risks.

Choice B reason:
Autonomy refers to the client’s right to make informed decisions about their care. While autonomy is relevant in deciding whether to receive chemotherapy, it does not directly address the balance of harm and benefit that the treatment presents.

Choice C reason:
Beneficence is promoting good or acting in the best interest of the client. Chemotherapy has beneficent goals (treating cancer), but the ethical tension here is the potential harm caused, making nonmaleficence the principle highlighted.

Choice D reason:
Justice refers to fairness in the distribution of healthcare resources. The scenario is focused on harm and benefit to a single client, not resource allocation, so justice is not the primary ethical principle in this context.

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The nurse is caring for a client whose intravenous (IV) pump continues to alarm even after trying to fix it on multiple occasions. The client is becoming increasingly frustrated with the constant beeping. What action should the nurse take next?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

The nurse is reviewing ethical principles that guide professional nursing practice. Which ethical principle is best defined as the obligation to avoid causing harm to a client?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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