Critical Care Nursing Cardiac Questions Related

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A patient is declared brain dead and a do not resuscitate (DNR) order is put in place. The nurse caring for the patient does not agree with this manne r of care but does not express any concerns to the charge nurse. The nurse’s feeling that the p atient is being killed will likely create what response for this nurse?

  • A. A sense of abandonment
  • B. Increased family stress
  • C. Moral distress
  • D. A sense of negligence
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Moral distress. In this scenario, the nurse is experiencing conflicting moral values between the decision made for the patient and their own beliefs. This internal conflict leads to moral distress, a common response when healthcare professionals feel unable to act in accordance with their ethical beliefs. This can lead to emotional turmoil, frustration, and moral residue.

A: A sense of abandonment is incorrect because the nurse is still caring for the patient, so there is no physical abandonment.
B: Increased family stress is incorrect as the nurse's internal conflict does not directly impact family stress.
D: A sense of negligence is incorrect as negligence implies failure to provide proper care, which is not the case here.