A 15-year-old female has a positive pregnancy test and asks the primary care pediatric nurse practitioner not to tell her parents. She is tearful and says she isn't sure she wants to keep the baby. What will the nurse practitioner do first?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The first priority for the nurse practitioner is to determine the state-mandated reporting laws regarding underage pregnancy. This will inform the nurse practitioner of their legal obligations and help protect the patient's confidentiality as much as possible. Encouraging the adolescent to talk to her parents or discussing adoption options may be appropriate later but should not be the first action taken without understanding reporting laws. Referring her to a prenatal care specialist for follow-up is also important but should come after determining reporting laws.

A 15-Year-Old Female Has a Positive Pregnancy Test and Asks