Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Concepts and Trends in Health Care Related

Review Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Concepts and Trends in Health Care related questions and content

The nurse informs the administrative assistant that a client is expected to come in for lab work. The administrative assistant asks why the nurse refers to the individual as a client. What is the best response by the nurse?

  • A. We should refer to everyone as a client. They pay for our service.'
  • B. That's how the physician wants us to refer to them.'
  • C. Using the term client implies that they are an active partner in nursing care.'
  • D. Using the term client is more respectful that using the term patient.'
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: A client is an active partner in nursing care, and the person receiving healthcare services should no longer play a passive, ill role. The use of the term client reflects the attitude of personal responsibility for health. Though clients may be paying for these services, some physicians may request their staff members to use this terminology, and some people may consider it to be a more respectful term than 'patient', these are not the primary reasons to refer to the individual as a client.