The nurse is taking care of a 60-year-old client who is scheduled for open reduction internal fixation of the left femur. Which ethical principle is most important when soliciting informed consent from the patient?

Choice A reason: Nonmaleficence ensures no harm but is secondary to veracity, which provides truthful information for consent. Truthfulness is critical, making this incorrect, as it’s not the primary ethical principle the nurse prioritizes when soliciting informed consent from a patient.

Choice B reason: Fidelity involves keeping promises but doesn’t directly ensure the patient receives accurate information for consent. Veracity is key, making this incorrect, as it’s less relevant than the nurse’s focus on truthfulness during the informed consent process.

Choice C reason: Beneficence promotes well-being but is less critical than veracity, which ensures informed decision-making. Truthful disclosure is primary, making this incorrect, as it’s secondary to the nurse’s ethical priority when obtaining informed consent from the patient.

Choice D reason: Veracity, or truthfulness, is the most important principle, ensuring the patient receives accurate information for informed consent. This aligns with ethical standards, making it the correct principle the nurse prioritizes to support autonomous decision-making during the consent process.

Choice A reason: Octreotide reduces portal hypertension and bleeding in esophageal varices by constricting splanchnic blood flow. This aligns with acute variceal bleed management, making it the correct medication the nurse would expect to be administered to the actively bleeding client.

Choice B reason: Propranolol prevents variceal bleeding long-term but is not used for active bleeding. Octreotide is acute treatment, making this incorrect, as it’s inappropriate for the nurse’s expectation in managing the client’s immediate esophageal variceal hemorrhage.

Choice C reason: Lactulose treats hepatic encephalopathy, not active variceal bleeding. Octreotide controls acute hemorrhage, making this incorrect, as it’s unrelated to the nurse’s priority of administering a medication to stop the client’s esophageal variceal bleeding in the emergency.

Choice D reason: Spironolactone manages ascites in liver disease, not acute variceal bleeding. Octreotide is the treatment for active bleeding, making this incorrect, as it’s irrelevant to the nurse’s expectation for a medication to control the client’s esophageal variceal hemorrhage.