Which actions are part of the nurse's role in risk management? (Select all that apply)

Introduction:

Therapeutic communication requires active listening skills to facilitate emotional expression during difficult health encounters. By employing open-ended questioning and avoiding judgmental or dismissive language, the nurse validates the patient's unique experience, fosters trust, and provides a supportive environment that encourages the patient to share their true concerns and feelings.

A. This response is dismissive and invalidating, as it minimizes the patient's genuine feelings about their diagnosis. By telling a patient they should not feel a certain way, the nurse shuts down further communication and fails to provide the emotional support necessary to navigate a significant life-altering medical experience.

B. This response uses "self-disclosure" inappropriately, shifting the focus away from the patient and onto the nurse's personal experience. It undermines the patient’s unique emotional journey and fails to acknowledge that the nurse cannot truly know how the patient feels, which can alienate the patient during a vulnerable time.

C. Open-ended inquiry serves as a vital therapeutic tool that invites the patient to elaborate on their thoughts and feelings. This approach demonstrates genuine interest, empowers the patient to define their own concerns, and allows the nurse to provide targeted, empathetic support that addresses the specific needs of the patient.

D. False reassurance is a major barrier to effective communication. It serves to comfort the nurse rather than the patient and dismisses the patient's reality, preventing them from discussing their fears or anxieties. This approach ultimately leaves the patient feeling unheard, isolated, and unable to process their emotions effectively.

Introduction:

Ethical nursing practice demands strict adherence to information privacy protection and professional integrity standards. Nurses are mandated to protect the sensitive health information of their patients at all times, ensuring that clinical data is discussed only in appropriate, secure settings to prevent unauthorized access or disclosure to others.

A. Justice is the ethical principle of fairness and the equitable distribution of resources. While professional behavior is necessary for a just environment, discussing private information in a public area specifically relates to the protection of private data rather than the fair allocation of healthcare resources or services to patients.

B. Autonomy refers to the patient’s right to make their own healthcare decisions without interference. While unauthorized discussion of medical records is a grave violation of privacy, it does not directly interfere with the patient’s right to self-determination or the process of informed decision-making regarding their ongoing medical treatment.

C. Fidelity is the principle of honoring commitments and maintaining loyalty, which involves acting in the patient's best interest. Although discussing a patient in a public area is a breach of the patient-provider relationship, the most specific and direct ethical principle governing privacy and data protection is confidentiality.

D. Confidentiality breach is the primary ethical issue here, as the nurse is disclosing sensitive patient information in a public setting where others can overhear. Maintaining patient privacy is a cornerstone of the professional nursing code of ethics, ensuring that health information remains private, protected, and accessible only to authorized personnel.