Current Issues in Maternal and Child Health Related

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Which step of the nursing process is being used when the nurse decides whether an ethical dilemma exists?

  • A. Analysis
  • B. Planning
  • C. Evaluation
  • D. Assessment
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Analysis is the step of the nursing process being used when the nurse decides whether an ethical dilemma exists. During the analysis step, the nurse gathers and interprets data to make sense of a clinical situation. In the case of ethical dilemmas, the nurse would assess the situation, gather relevant information, and analyze it to determine if there is a conflict in values, beliefs, or principles, which would classify it as an ethical dilemma. Once the nurse identifies the existence of an ethical dilemma through analysis, they can then move on to the planning phase to decide on a course of action.