Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 88%
Simulated
A nurse is caring for a client who is unconscious and whose partner is their health care surrogate. The partner wishes to discontinue the client's feeding tube, but another family member tells the nurse that they want the client to continue receiving treatment. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
Correct answer
D
Rationale
Correct Answer: D - As the health care surrogate, the client's partner can make this decision.
Rationale:
1. Health care surrogates are legally designated individuals to make healthcare decisions for incapacitated patients.
2. The partner's decision carries more weight than the other family member's wishes.
3. The nurse should support the surrogate's decision, as per the patient's advance directives.
4. Contacting the provider (choice A) or ethics committee (choice B) may delay necessary decision-making.
5. Involving the nursing supervisor (choice C) is not as relevant as honoring the surrogate's authority.
In summary, option D is the correct response because the health care surrogate has the legal authority to make decisions for the unconscious client, and their decision should be respected over other family members' preferences.
Rationale:
1. Health care surrogates are legally designated individuals to make healthcare decisions for incapacitated patients.
2. The partner's decision carries more weight than the other family member's wishes.
3. The nurse should support the surrogate's decision, as per the patient's advance directives.
4. Contacting the provider (choice A) or ethics committee (choice B) may delay necessary decision-making.
5. Involving the nursing supervisor (choice C) is not as relevant as honoring the surrogate's authority.
In summary, option D is the correct response because the health care surrogate has the legal authority to make decisions for the unconscious client, and their decision should be respected over other family members' preferences.