NCLEX RN Safety and Infection Control Questions Related

Review NCLEX RN Safety and Infection Control Questions related questions and content

The nurse employed in a home health agency is religiously opposed to homosexuality and cannot care for a client diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The nurse then leaves the client's home. Which statement accurately identifies the nurse's rights and actions? Select all that apply.

  • A. The nurse has the moral right to leave the client's home at any time.
  • B. The nurse has a legal right to inform the client of any barriers to providing care.
  • C. The nurse has a duty to protect self from client care situations that are morally repellent.
  • D. The nurse has a duty to provide competent care to assigned clients in a nondiscriminatory manner.
  • E. The nurse has the right to refuse to care for any client on religious grounds if competent care coverage is arranged.
Correct Answer: D,E

Rationale: The nurse has a duty to provide care to all clients in a nondiscriminatory manner. Personal autonomy does not apply if it interferes with the rights of the client. Refusal to provide care may be acceptable if that refusal does not put the client's safety at risk and the refusal is primarily associated with religious objections, not personal objection, to lifestyle or medical diagnosis. There is no legal obligation to inform the client of the nurse's personal objections to the client. The nurse also has an obligation to observe the principle of nonmaleficence (neither causing nor allowing harm to befall the client).