Question

As the nurse is preparing a patient for surgery, the patient refuses to remove a wedding ring. Which of the following is the most appropriate action by the nurse?

1) Insist the patient remove the ring for safety purposes.
2) Explain that the hospital will not be responsible for the ring.
3) Tape the ring securely to the finger and document this on the preoperative checklist.
4) Note the presence of the ring in the nurse's notes of the chart and on the preoperative checklist.

Answer 1

The most appropriate action for the nurse is to note the presence of the ring in the nurse's notes of the chart and on the preoperative checklist.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most appropriate action by the nurse in this situation would be to note the presence of the ring in the nurse's notes of the chart and on the preoperative checklist (option 4).

Insisting the patient remove the ring (option 1) can lead to unnecessary conflict and may violate the patient's autonomy and rights. Explaining that the hospital is not responsible for the ring (option 2) does not address the patient's concerns and may cause distress. Taping the ring securely to the finger and documenting it (option 3) is not recommended as it can increase the risk of tissue damage and complications during surgery.