Question

A nurse is caring for a group of clients on a medical-surgical unit. In which of the following situations does the nurse demonstrate the ethical principle of veracity?

Option 1: A client who is unaware of her recent cancer diagnosis asks the nurse if she has cancer, and the nurse responds affirmatively.

Option 2: A client who has a prescription for a nasogastric tube refuses it, and the nurse complies with the client's wishes.

Option 3: A client who has a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order has a cardiac arrest, and the nurse does not perform CPR despite requests from the client's family.

Option 4: A client who is about to undergo a painful procedure receives pain medication 30 min before the procedure that the nurse previously promised to administer.

Answer 1

The nurse demonstrates the ethical principle of veracity by truthfully confirming a patient's cancer diagnosis when asked directly, in alignment with ethical duty.

Therefore, option 1 is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse demonstrates the ethical principle of veracity in Option 1: A client who is unaware of her recent cancer diagnosis asks the nurse if she has cancer, and the nurse responds affirmatively. Veracity involves telling the truth and providing accurate information to patients. In this case, the nurse is upholding the patient's right to know their medical condition, even if the truth may be distressing. This aligns with the principle of veracity and the ethical duty of the nurse to maintain honest communication with patients.Veracity is the principle of telling the truth and being honest with patients. In this situation, the nurse is being truthful with the client by confirming her cancer diagnosis when asked directly, thereby demonstrating the ethical principle of veracity.