Question

A nurse is caring for an adult patient who is NPO. The patient is refusing oral care. Which of the following is an appropriate response by the nurse?

a. Respect the patient's wishes and proceed without providing oral care.
b. Explain the importance of oral care in preventing complications and encourage the patient to reconsider.
c. Inform the healthcare provider and request an order to override the patient's refusal.
d. Delegate the responsibility of oral care to another nursing staff.

Answer 1

The nurse should explain the importance of oral care to the NPO patient and encourage reconsideration, balancing respect for autonomy with the responsibility to prevent health complications.

Step-by-step explanation:

A nurse caring for an adult patient who is NPO and refusing oral care should explain the importance of oral care in preventing complications and encourage the patient to reconsider. The goal would be to respect the patient's autonomy while ensuring that they understand the potential risks associated with inadequate oral hygiene, particularly when NPO status could increase the risk for complications such as infection. The nurse could provide data or outcomes related to good oral care practices in a professional and friendly manner to help persuade the patient about its importance.

Requesting an order to override the patient's refusal or delegating the responsibility to another staff member would not be appropriate responses unless all attempts at education and encouragement fail and the patient's refusal leads to a critical risk to their health. Even in such circumstances, collaborative and ethical deliberation would be warranted before proceeding.