A nurse is caring for a terminally ill client who requests to stop treatments, including nutrition and hydration. The client’s family insists that treatments continue, stating that the client is unable to make rational decisions due to their illness. What is the BEST action for the nurse to take?
Respect the client's decision and discuss it with the healthcare team to ensure it aligns with their wishes.
Seek a legal ruling to mediate the conflict between the family and the client.
Evaluate the client’s decision based on the family’s concerns and continue treatment as directed by the physician.
Continue providing treatments until the family consents to stopping them.
The correct answer is to respect and advocate for the client's decision after discussing it with the healthcare team to ensure it aligns with the client's autonomy. Nurses are professionally obligated to prioritize the client’s right to make informed decisions about their care. Seeking a legal ruling (option 2) is not the first step unless there’s evidence of incapacity or conflict unresolved by the healthcare team. Evaluating the client’s decision based only on family concerns (option 3) disregards the legal and ethical necessity to prioritize the client’s autonomy. Continuing treatments until family consent (option 4) dismisses the client’s autonomy and violates ethical nursing principles.
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