Final answer:
The nurse should document the client's refusal to take the medication and inform the healthcare provider, respecting the client's right to refuse treatment while ensuring legal and ethical responsibilities are met.
Step-by-step explanation:
(c) Document the client's refusal to take the medication and notify the healthcare provider.
When a client expresses a refusal to take a prescribed medication, such as a "fluid pill" or diuretic, the nurse has several options. The best approach is to respect the client's autonomy and decision while ensuring proper documentation of the refusal and informing the healthcare provider. It is not appropriate to coerce or force the client to take the medication, nor is it legal to allow the client to take prescription medication home. Instead, it is critical to communicate with the client to understand their concerns and provide education about the importance of the medication.
However, ultimately, the client has the right to refuse treatment, and the nurse's responsibility is to document this in the patient's medical record. This documentation is necessary to protect both the client and the healthcare provider legally and ethically. Afterward, the nurse should notify the healthcare provider of the refusal so they can follow up as needed, which may include reassessing the treatment plan or providing further patient education.