The nurse should recognize that floating to the adult medical-surgical unit has placed them at legal risk for:

Choice A rationale

Autonomy supports the client’s decision-making capacity, allowing them to determine their care preferences, including discontinuing enteral feedings. Respecting autonomy aligns with ethical nursing practice, prioritizing the client’s informed choices and independence.

Choice B rationale

Fidelity relates to maintaining commitments and professional promises but does not directly address respecting client decisions regarding care. While trust is essential, autonomy is more applicable in this context.

Choice C rationale

Justice emphasizes fairness and equal treatment, which is vital in resource distribution and ethical practice. However, it does not directly pertain to honoring a client’s individual decisions.

Choice D rationale

Beneficence involves promoting the client’s well-being, which might conflict with their decision to discontinue treatment. Supporting autonomy takes precedence when clients make informed choices. .

Choice A rationale: Continuing to administer the medication and observing the client for adverse reactions is inappropriate in this scenario. Lack of training on the infusion pump poses a risk of medication errors, which could lead to patient harm. Proper operation of medical devices requires adequate training and understanding to ensure safety and effectiveness. Observing adverse reactions does not prevent potential errors during administration.

Choice B rationale: Notifying the charge nurse and requesting the client to be reassigned to another nurse is the correct action. Nurses must prioritize patient safety and act within their scope of competence. Communicating the lack of training ensures that the task is reassigned to a qualified nurse who can safely and accurately operate the infusion pump, minimizing risks associated with improper use.

Choice C rationale: Referring to the manufacturer's guidelines and proceeding to use the infusion pump is not the best approach. While guidelines provide technical instructions, nurses need hands-on training to fully understand and safely operate medical devices. Misinterpretation of the guidelines or insufficient familiarity with the pump's mechanisms can lead to errors, compromising patient safety.

Choice D rationale: Allowing another nurse to demonstrate the use of the infusion pump and then taking over may seem reasonable but is not ideal in this case. Demonstration alone cannot guarantee adequate competence, as proper training includes practice and assessment. The immediate priority is to ensure safe medication administration, which requires a trained and experienced nurse to handle the infusion pump directly.