1. A nurse is caring for a patient who expresses a desire to have an elective abortion. The nurse’s

religious and ethical values are strongly opposed. How should the nurse best handle the situation?

a. Attempt to educate the patient about the consequences of abortion.

Refer the patient to a family planning center or another health

b. professional.

Continue to care for the patient, and limit conversation as much as

c. possible.

Inform the patient that, because of immoral issues, another nurse will

d. have to care for her.

ANS: B

The nurse must be aware of personal beliefs and values and is not required to

participate in counseling or procedures that compromise those values. However,

the patient is entitled to nonjudgmental care and should be referred to someone

who can create a trusting environment. The nurse should not care for a patient if

the quality of care could be jeopardized. The nurse should not attempt to push

personal values onto a patient. The nurse also should not create tension by

informing the patient that he or she does not have the same morals; this could

cause the patient to feel guilty or defensive when receiving care from any health

care professional.

2. Which patient is most in need of a nurse’s referral to adoption services?

a. A woman considering abortion for an unwanted pregnancy

b. An infertile couple religiously opposed to artificial insemination

c. A woman who suffered miscarriage during her first pregnancy

d. An infertile couple who has been attempting conception for 3 months

ANS: B

Adoption is an option for someone with infertility, especially if infertility treatments

are unavailable owing to religious or financial constraints. A patient who wishes

to have an elective abortion may be educated about all the possibilities, but the

nurse should approach the patient in a nonjudgmental manner and should accept

the patient’s decision. When a patient has recently miscarried, the nurse should

assess the patient’s feelings about the loss and should address any concerns the

patient may have about fertility. Infertility is the inability to conceive after 1 year

of unprotected intercourse; therefore, talking about adoption after one miscarriage

or after only 3 months of attempting conception would be too soon.

3. The nurse is caring for a patient who recently had unprotected sex with a partner who has HIV.

Which response by the nurse is best?

“You should have your blood drawn today to see if you were

a. infected.”

b. “If you have the virus, you will have flu-like symptoms in 6

months.” “Highly active antiretroviral therapy has been

shown effective in

c. slowing the disease process.”

“I will set you up with a support group to help you cope with dying

d. within the next 10 years.”

ANS: C