Nokea
The HCP has notified the family of a client in a persistent vegetative state on a ventilator of the need to 'pull the plug.' The client does not have an AD or a durable power of attorney for health care, and the family does not want their loved one removed from the ventilator. Which action should the nurse implement?
- A. Refer the case to the hospital ethics committee.
- B. Tell the family they must do what the HCP orders.
- C. Follow the HCP's order and 'pull the plug.'
- D. Determine why the client did not complete an AD.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Without an AD or proxy, disagreements between family and HCP require ethics committee review for resolution. Forcing compliance, following orders against family wishes, or investigating AD absence is inappropriate.
You may also like to solve these questions
The client who is of the Jewish faith died during the night. The nurse notified the family, who do not want to come to the hospital. Which intervention should the nurse implement to address the family's behavior?
- A. Take no further action because this is an accepted cultural practice.
- B. Notify the hospital supervisor and report the situation immediately.
- C. Call the local synagogue and request the rabbi go to the family's home.
- D. Assume the family does not care about the client and follow hospital protocol.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In Jewish tradition, some families avoid hospital visits post-death, delegating care to professionals, a cultural norm. Supervisor reports, rabbi involvement, or assumptions are inappropriate.
The client is being discharged from the hospital for intractable pain secondary to cancer and is prescribed morphine, a narcotic. Which statement indicates the client understands the discharge instructions?
- A. I will be sure to have my prescriptions filled before any holiday.
- B. There should not be a problem having the prescriptions filled anytime.
- C. If I run out of medications, I can call the HCP to phone in a prescription.
- D. There are no side effects to morphine I should be concerned about.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Filling prescriptions before holidays ensures access to narcotics, reflecting understanding of controlled substance challenges. Other statements are inaccurate or unsafe.
The nurse is orienting to a hospice organization. Which statement does not indicate a right of the terminal client? The right to:
- A. Be treated with respect and dignity.
- B. Have particulars of the death withheld.
- C. Receive optimal and effective pain management.
- D. Receive holistic and compassionate care.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Terminal clients have rights to dignity, pain management, and holistic care, per hospice principles. Withholding death particulars is not a recognized right and may violate transparency.
The nurse pronounced Dr. Smith's client to be clinically dead. Which should the nurse document on the client's chart?
- A. Brain scan indicates no brain wave activity, client pronounced deceased. Family refuses to talk with organ bank.
- B. Cardiac arrest noted, CPR initiated but unsuccessful. Pronounced dead.
- C. Pulse, respirations, and blood pressure absent at 0900, pronounced dead. Dr. Smith to sign death certificate.
- D. Client found without pulse, body cold to touch. Pronounced deceased at 0900.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Documentation should include objective findings (absent vital signs), time, and physician’s role, per legal standards. Brain scan or CPR details are specific, and cold body is insufficient.
The client is in the psychiatric unit in a medical center. Which action by the psychiatric nurse is a violation of the client's legal and civil rights?
- A. The nurse tells the client civilian clothes can be worn on the unit.
- B. The nurse allows the client to have family visits during visiting hours.
- C. The nurse delivers unopened mail and packages to the client.
- D. The nurse listens to the client talking on the telephone to a friend.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Eavesdropping on a client’s phone call violates privacy rights, per civil liberties. Allowing clothes, visits, or mail respects client autonomy.