Question

A home care nurse visits a client who is confined to bed and is cared for by her daughter. The daughter is known to suffer from chemical dependence. The home is cluttered and unclean. During the assessment the nurse notes that the client is wet with urine and has dried feces on her buttocks, and demonstrates signs of dehydration. After caring for the client, the nurse contacts the physician and reports the incident to Adult Protective Services. This is an example of which ethical framework?

1) Justice
2) Autonomy
3) Nonmaleficence
4) Fidelity

Answer 1

The nurse's actions of reporting the neglect of a client to a physician and Adult Protective Services are an example of the ethical principle of nonmaleficence. option 3

Step-by-step explanation:

In the scenario described, where a nurse finds a client in an unclean and neglected state and takes action to ensure the client's well-being, the ethical framework demonstrated is nonmaleficence. Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle that dictates healthcare professionals should not cause harm to patients. In this case, the nurse observed signs of neglect, such as dehydration, and unsanitary conditions, which could further harm the client's health. By reporting the incident to the physician and Adult Protective Services, the nurse took steps to prevent further harm to the client, thereby upholding the ethical principle of nonmaleficence.