Ethics, legal nursing, delegation, prioritization Management of Care
Case Study
A 58-year-old client on a telemetry unit is being evaluated for nursing care related to unsafe orders. Assessment data include family requests lab results by phone without verified authorization. Before teaching, what should the nurse assess first?
Question
A. Begin a long lecture while the client is in acute distress.
B. Assume understanding without checking literacy or readiness.
C. Immediate safety, readiness to learn, literacy, cultural needs, barriers, and baseline understanding.
D. Delegate all teaching without RN evaluation of learning needs.
Rationale
Correct answer: C. Immediate safety, readiness to learn, literacy, cultural needs, barriers, and baseline understanding.
Rationale: Teaching is effective only after safety and learning readiness are confirmed; the RN cannot delegate assessment of learning needs on unstable clients.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.
Level: Advanced
Difficulty: Hard
Subtopic: Unsafe orders