A client with a terminal illness asks the nurse about their prognosis. The nurse discusses the prognosis with the client, which the physician had previously divulged.
Which ethical principle is the nurse demonstrating?
A client with a terminal illness asks the nurse about their prognosis. The nurse discusses the prognosis with the client, which the physician had previously divulged.
Which ethical principle is the nurse demonstrating?
A. Fidelity
[16%]
B. Confidentiality
[9%]
C. Beneficence
[13%]
D. Veracity
[62%]
Statistics
Subject/Lesson
Subject
Leadership & Management
Lesson
Ethical/Legal
Client Need
Test Plan
Management of Care
Related Topic
Ethical Practice
Item Type
Item Type
Analysis
Explanation
Choice D is correct. Veracity refers to truth-telling and honesty in communication. In this case, the nurse is providing the client with information about their prognosis, which the physician previously shared. The focus is on honesty and transparency, making veracity the correct ethical principle demonstrated in this scenario.
Choice A is incorrect. Fidelity refers to the nurse's obligation to be loyal, faithful, and committed to the client, honoring promises and maintaining trust. While the nurse is demonstrating loyalty to the client by addressing their concerns, this option is not the best fit for the scenario, as it focuses on providing truthful information, not necessarily on loyalty or fulfilling a specific promise.
Choice B is incorrect. Confidentiality involves respecting the privacy of client information and only sharing it with authorized individuals. Although the nurse is discussing the prognosis with the client, there's no indication that confidentiality is breached or violated since the physician previously divulged the information. Therefore, confidentiality is not the best fit in this context.
Choice C is incorrect. Beneficence is the ethical principle of doing good or acting in the client's best interest. While the nurse's actions are likely in the client's best interest, the specific act described is about truth-telling, not necessarily about doing good in the broader sense.
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2 Key Topics
Beneficence
