Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Legal and Ethical Issues Related

Review Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Legal and Ethical Issues related questions and content

A client who has end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) asks the nurse, 'Am I going to be getting better? Is there a cure?' What is the best response by the nurse that demonstrates the professional value, veracity?

  • A. Everything will be fine.'
  • B. Did someone tell you that there is a cure for this?'
  • C. You don't need to worry about that; just get better.'
  • D. Although there is no cure for this disease, we will keep you as comfortable as possible.'
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The professional value of veracity is the duty to tell the truth. The nurse must provide factual information so the client may exercise autonomy. 'Everything will be fine,' 'Did someone tell you that there is a cure for this?', and 'You don't need to worry about that; just get better' are nontherapeutic responses that do not answer the client's question.