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While assisting a healthcare provider in assessing a hospitalized client, the healthcare provider is paged to report to the recovery room. The healthcare provider instructs the nurse verbally to change the solution and rate of the intravenous (IV) fluid being administered. What is the most appropriate nursing action in this situation?
- A. Calling the nursing supervisor to obtain permission to accept the verbal prescription
- B. Asking the healthcare provider to write the prescription in the client's record before leaving the nursing unit
- C. Telling the healthcare provider that the prescription will not be implemented until it is documented in the client's record
- D. Changing the solution and rate of the IV fluid per the healthcare provider's verbal prescription
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Verbal prescriptions should be avoided due to the risk of errors. If a verbal prescription is necessary, it should be promptly written and signed by the healthcare provider, typically within 24 hours. Following agency policies and procedures regarding verbal prescriptions is crucial. In this scenario, the most appropriate nursing action is to request the healthcare provider to document the prescription in the client's record before leaving the unit. Calling the nursing supervisor to accept the verbal prescription without documentation, telling the healthcare provider to delay treatment until documented, and directly changing the IV fluid based on verbal orders all pose risks and do not align with best practices in medication administration.
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Which of the following is not an advanced directive?
- A. informed consent
- B. living will
- C. durable power of attorney for health care
- D. health care proxy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Informed consent is the process of obtaining permission from a patient before conducting a healthcare intervention. It is not considered an advanced directive. A living will is a legal document that outlines a person's preferences for medical treatment if they are unable to communicate. A durable power of attorney for health care designates a person to make medical decisions on behalf of the patient. A health care proxy, which is another term for a durable power of attorney for health care, also involves appointing someone to make healthcare decisions for an individual if they become unable to do so. Therefore, the correct answer is 'informed consent,' as it is not an advanced directive but rather a different aspect of patient care.
The nurse is caring for a client awaiting test results on a biopsy. The client is unconscious, and the physician informs the client's spouse that the biopsy came back positive for cancer. The spouse asks the nurse if they will not share this news with the client because they would prefer the client be unaware of the diagnosis. Which of the following responses is most appropriate?
- A. "I will have a psychiatrist confirm whether the news will cause negative effects, and if so, I will comply with your request."?
- B. "For ethical reasons, I am unable to withhold this information from the client."?
- C. "You do not have the option to sign paperwork stating you are accepting the risk of not sharing this with the client."?
- D. "You must have a durable power of attorney for healthcare advanced directive in place before I can consider this request."?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct response is, "For ethical reasons, I am unable to withhold this information from the client."? The ethical principle of veracity requires that the nurse is truthful with the client and does not withhold information even if it is requested by the family. Choice A is incorrect because seeking a psychiatrist's confirmation is not necessary to uphold the ethical principle of truth-telling. Choice C is incorrect as implying that signing paperwork overrides the nurse's ethical obligation to be honest with the client is inappropriate. Choice D is also incorrect as a durable power of attorney is not relevant in this situation where the spouse is asking the nurse to withhold information.
A client being treated for sickle cell disease has an order for pain medication. Morphine was ordered, but the nurse is having difficulty deciphering the dose. The nurse should ____.
- A. ask the attending physician to clarify the order, including the correct medication, dose, route, and frequency
- B. call the charge nurse to inform the attending physician and verify the order, including the correct medication, dose, route, and frequency
- C. call the attending physician to verbally verify the order, including the correct medication, dose, route, and frequency
- D. refrain from administering the medication until the charge nurse can assist in determining the correct dosage
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In this scenario, when a nurse encounters difficulties in deciphering an order, the appropriate action is to contact the attending physician directly to clarify and verify the medication, dose, route, and frequency. It is crucial for the nurse to have a clear understanding of the order before administering any medication to ensure patient safety and proper treatment. Option A is incorrect as it suggests asking the attending physician to clarify without specifying the urgency of the situation. Option B involves an unnecessary additional step by first contacting the charge nurse before reaching out to the attending physician, potentially delaying the clarification process. Option D is incorrect as it advises refraining from administering the medication, which may not be necessary if the correct dosage can be promptly verified by contacting the attending physician.
A nurse calls a health care provider to question a prescription written for a higher-than-normal dosage of morphine sulfate. The health care provider changes the prescription to a dosage within the normal range, and the nurse documents the new telephone prescription in accordance with the agency's guidelines in the client's record. Which other statement does the nurse document in the nursing notes?
- A. The health care provider made a mistake in the written prescription for morphine sulfate.
- B. An inaccurate dosage of morphine sulfate was prescribed and the health care provider was informed.
- C. The health care provider was contacted to correct a mistake in the dosage of morphine sulfate.
- D. The health care provider was contacted to clarify the prescription for morphine sulfate
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse needs to document a factual, descriptive, and objective statement that does not include words indicating that an individual made a mistake or performed an incorrect action or procedure. If a health care provider's prescription must be questioned, the nurse should record that clarification regarding the prescription was sought. Therefore, the correct statement to document is that the health care provider was contacted to clarify the prescription for morphine sulfate. Choices A, B, and C imply errors or mistakes on the part of the health care provider, which is not the focus of the documentation in this scenario.
A nurse discovers that another nurse has administered an enema to a client even though the client told the nurse that he did not want one. Which is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?
- A. Report the incident to the nursing supervisor
- B. Confront the nurse who gave the enema and inform the nurse that she may face charges of battery
- C. Tell the client that the nurse did the right thing in giving the enema
- D. Contact the client's health care provider
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Battery is any intentional touching of a client without the client's consent, which violates the client's rights. If a nurse discovers such an incident, they should report it to the nursing supervisor. Confronting the nurse and threatening charges of battery could lead to unnecessary conflict. Telling the client that the nurse did the right thing is incorrect as it goes against the client's wishes. While the health care provider may need to be notified eventually, the first step should be reporting the incident to the nursing supervisor to address the violation appropriately.