Nokea
A patient comes to an outpatient appointment obviously intoxicated. The nurse should:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for Answer D (Correct):
1. Safety first: Intoxicated patients can be a safety risk to themselves and others.
2. Ethical responsibility: Providing care to an intoxicated patient may compromise the quality of care.
3. Setting boundaries: Communicating that the appointment cannot proceed due to intoxication sets a clear boundary.
4. Referral assistance: The patient can be directed to appropriate resources for help with substance abuse.
Summary of why other choices are incorrect:
A (explore reasons): Not appropriate when patient is intoxicated. B (inpatient unit): Premature without assessing the situation. C (detox unit): Immediate detox may not be necessary.