A nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. The patient still maintains all of her cognitive functioning, and tells the nurse that he would like to become a DNR/DNI and would like to transition to comfort measures only. The patient’s family is upset by this and tells the nurse that the patient is depressed and doesn’t know what he’s saying. They threaten to press legal charges if you do not continue with her perilously prescribed chemo regained. What action should you as a nurse take while maintaining your role as a patient advocate? Explain what decision you would make, and why it is the most ethical choice.
As we are in the age of social media, do you think nurses should use media platforms to address concerns and advocate for nursing practice? Why or why not? What are the pros and cons of using the media to raise awareness?
A patient tells you they want to enroll in study so they can be sure to get the best treatment available for their condition. You know that it is a double blind clinical trial that involves a randomly assigned placebo. What and how would you tell them? Do you have an ethical duty to educate them?