NURSING CASE

DISCUSSION
BY

Dr.Armah

 A nurse working in the Emergency Department is asked to care

for an openly gay client with AIDS. The nurse tells her
supervisor that caring for the client is against her religious
beliefs, and asks if she must take the assignment. Does this
nurse have a moral obligation to care for the client?

No, because the client's behavior caused him to contract AIDS

Yes, unless the risk exceeds the responsibility

No, the nurse does not have to violate religious beliefs.

Yes, but the nurse should hide her negative feelings

 A fully alert and competent 89-year-old client is in end-stage

liver disease. The client says, "I'm ready to die," and refuses
to take food or fluids. The family urges the client to allow the
nurse to insert a feeding tube. What is the nurse's moral
responsibility?
The nurse should obtain an order for a feeding tube.
The nurse should encourage the client to reconsider the decision.
The nurse should honor the client's decision.
The nurse must consider that the hospital can be sued if she honors the client's
request.

 A client with cancer has decided against further treatment.

Which nursing action would be most helpful?
Making sure the client has accurate information and understands the consequences of the decision
Informing the client's wife, and encouraging her to talk to the client and intervene, if necessary
Accepting the decision and making no comments to the client
Talking to the client and trying to persuade the client to think about reversing the decision

 A mentally competent client with end-stage liver disease

continues to consume alcohol after being informed of the
consequences of this action. What action best illustrates the
nurse's role as a client advocate?

Asking the spouse to take all the alcohol out of the house
Accepting the client's choice and not intervening
Reminding the client that the action may be an end-of-life decision
Refusing to care for the client because of the client's noncompliance

 A client asks you not to tell his wife that he has cancer. He
does not want to burden her with this information. What
would be the most appropriate response by the nurse?

"I'm sorry, the doctor already told her.

"Why are you afraid to tell her?

"

"What benefits do you see from doing this?

"Don't you think she has a right to know?"

 A famous actress has had plastic surgery. The media

contacts the nurse on the unit and asks for
information about the surgery. The nurse knows:
Any information released will bring publicity to the hospital
Nurses are obligated to respect client's privacy and confidentiality.

It does not matter what is disclosed, the media will find out any way.
According to beneficence, the nurse has an obligation to implement actions
that will benefit clients.