Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 80%
Simulated
Passage / Scenario
A nurse is caring for a newborn immediately following birth who has a prescription for erythromycin ophthalmic ointment. The guardian refuses the medication.Which action should the nurse take?
Correct answer
A
Rationale
The correct action for the nurse is to choose option A, which is to document the guardian's refusal of the medication. This is important for legal and ethical reasons as it ensures that the refusal is properly recorded in the patient's medical records. By documenting the refusal, the nurse is fulfilling their duty to maintain accurate and comprehensive documentation. It also allows for continuity of care and communication among healthcare providers. Options B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not address the immediate need to document the refusal. Informing the guardian about giving the medication after discharge does not address the current refusal, reporting to social services may not be necessary at this stage, and involving the ethics committee is premature without proper documentation.