Final answer:
Honoring the client's advance directives and preferences is the action that demonstrates the nurse is practicing in an ethical manner. It respects the patient's autonomy and is a key principle of compassionate and ethical patient care at the end of life.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse who is practicing in an ethical manner while caring for a client who is terminally ill will demonstrate actions that align with professional and ethical standards of care. Among the options provided, honoring the client's advance directives and preferences showcases the nurse's commitment to respecting the patient's autonomy and legal wishes. This could include following a living will or a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order and is an essential aspect of providing compassionate and ethical care to individuals at the end of their lives.
Conversely, administering medications without informing the client, withholding emotional support from the client's family, and disclosing the client's private information to colleagues are actions that would be in violation of ethical principles such as informed consent, support, confidentiality, and professionalism.
It is crucial to balance the responsibility for caring for terminally ill patients with our other obligations while considering the ethical dilemmas surrounding end-of-life decisions, such as euthanasia and the concept of 'dying with dignity'. Care ethics, which emphasizes compassion, sympathy, and kindness, guides healthcare professionals in making informed and considerate decisions that respect the patient's wishes and dignity.