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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Metabolic alkalosis is not a direct or immediate complication of rapid potassium infusion. In fact, hypokalemia is more commonly associated with metabolic alkalosis, and potassium replacement may help correct it. This condition does not represent the primary acute danger associated with rapid intravenous potassium administration.

Fluid volume overload depends on the total volume and rate of fluid infused rather than the potassium itself. While excessive IV fluids can contribute to overload, this is not the most critical or potassium-specific life-threatening complication associated with rapid potassium administration.

Hypertension is not a typical consequence of rapid potassium infusion. Potassium primarily affects cardiac conduction and neuromuscular function rather than causing acute increases in blood pressure. Therefore, this option is incorrect.

Neurological assessment may be necessary if the client shows signs of altered mental status or complications such as encephalopathy. However, neurological involvement is not the primary or most immediate concern in uncomplicated influenza, so it does not take priority over respiratory assessment.

The endocrine system is not directly impacted in the acute phase of influenza. While systemic illness can affect metabolic demands, endocrine assessment is not urgent compared to respiratory function in this condition.

Cardiovascular assessment is important for overall monitoring, especially in older adults or those with comorbidities. However, influenza most commonly compromises oxygenation and ventilation first, so respiratory assessment remains the highest priority.

Dextrose 2.5% in water is a hypotonic solution once the dextrose is metabolized. Hypotonic fluids cause water to shift into cells, which can lead to cellular swelling. This fluid is not isotonic and is therefore incorrect.

0.45% sodium chloride, also known as half-normal saline, is a hypotonic solution. It provides free water and promotes fluid movement into cells, making it inappropriate to classify as isotonic.

Dextrose 10% in water is a hypertonic solution. It draws water out of cells into the intravascular space and increases serum osmolality. Because of this effect, it is not isotonic and is an incorrect choice.

Lactated Ringers is classified as an isotonic intravenous solution. It has an osmolality similar to plasma and is commonly used for fluid resuscitation and replacement of intravascular volume. Because it does not promote movement of water into cells, it is not appropriate when a hypotonic solution is prescribed.

Dextrose 5% with Lactated Ringers is a hypertonic solution due to the added dextrose. Hypertonic fluids draw water out of cells and into the intravascular space, which is the opposite of the intended effect when hypotonic fluids are ordered for dehydration at the cellular level.

0.9% sodium chloride, also known as normal saline, is an isotonic solution. It expands extracellular and intravascular volume without causing fluid shifts into or out of cells. This does not meet the criteria for a hypotonic solution.

Assessment involves collecting baseline data about a client’s condition before interventions are implemented. Although auscultation and questioning are assessment techniques, in this scenario they are performed after treatment to determine the effectiveness of care, not to establish initial data.

Intervention refers to actions taken to address a nursing diagnosis, such as administering medications or providing treatments. The nurse is not implementing a treatment in this situation but is instead determining the response to a previously performed intervention.

Diagnosis involves analyzing assessment data to identify nursing problems. This step occurs before planning and intervention. The nurse’s actions here are not aimed at identifying a problem but at determining whether treatment goals have been met.

Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that affects movement and motor control. While it may indirectly impact nutrition or hydration in advanced stages, it is not a direct or common cause of acute electrolyte imbalance associated with dehydration.

Asthma primarily affects the respiratory system and does not typically cause significant fluid or electrolyte losses. Unless complicated by other factors, asthma alone is unlikely to result in dehydration-related electrolyte imbalance.

Hypertension is a chronic cardiovascular condition characterized by elevated blood pressure. By itself, it does not directly cause dehydration or electrolyte imbalance unless influenced by factors such as diuretic use, which are not specified in the question.

Total patient care involves one nurse providing all aspects of care to a client. While it promotes continuity and individualized care, it is labor-intensive and costly, making it less effective at reducing overall healthcare costs.

Team nursing uses a group of healthcare workers led by a registered nurse to provide care. Although it can improve efficiency and delegation, its primary goal is not cost reduction but collaborative care delivery. It does not specifically emphasize cost containment to the extent that case management does.

Patient-centered care focuses on respecting client preferences, values, and needs. While it improves satisfaction and outcomes, it is not primarily designed as a cost-reduction model and does not directly address resource utilization or financial efficiency

Advocating for organ donation places the nurse’s values or the healthcare system’s needs above the client’s autonomy. Ethical nursing practice requires that organ donation decisions remain voluntary and free from pressure. The nurse must not promote or persuade the client to donate organs, especially at the end of life, as this may compromise ethical boundaries and trust.

While determining a client’s wishes is important, initiating discussions about organ donation is not the nurse’s responsibility unless the client independently expresses interest. Conversations about organ donation are typically handled by designated personnel to avoid coercion and ensure ethical compliance. The nurse should not independently consult the client about donation eligibility at the end of life.

Discussing organ donation with the family is also not the nurse’s role unless specifically directed by institutional policy and coordinated through the appropriate organ procurement organization. Introducing the topic directly may cause emotional distress and may be perceived as pressure during a vulnerable time.