The nurse is caring for a critically ill infant in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The infant's parents ask whether the child's 3-year-old sibling can visit. Small children are not permitted to visit the NICU because of the risk of infection to the infants on the unit. Which action by the nurse best demonstrates a compassionate response?

Question

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A)Compassion, or awareness of and concern about other individuals' suffering, is an important component of professionalism. Nurses demonstrate compassion when they recognize a client's need and respond appropriately to meet that need. In this situation, although the nurse would realize that certain rules are in place for the protection of clients, the nurse would also recognize the need for compassion. Of the options provided, the most appropriate way to demonstrate compassion would be to seek permission to allow the sibling to visit and see that the infant is alive and being cared for. The nurse would not make the decision without the permission of the management team. Telling the parents what the rules of the unit are will only increase the family's frustration when they are looking to the nurse for assistance. Offering counseling may or may not be an effective means of assisting the family.
B)Compassion, or awareness of and concern about other individuals' suffering, is an important component of professionalism. Nurses demonstrate compassion when they recognize a client's need and respond appropriately to meet that need. In this situation, although the nurse would realize that certain rules are in place for the protection of clients, the nurse would also recognize the need for compassion. Of the options provided, the most appropriate way to demonstrate compassion would be to seek permission to allow the sibling to visit and see that the infant is alive and being cared for. The nurse would not make the decision without the permission of the management team. Telling the parents what the rules of the unit are will only increase the family's frustration when they are looking to the nurse for assistance. Offering counseling may or may not be an effective means of assisting the family.
C)Compassion, or awareness of and concern about other individuals' suffering, is an important component of professionalism. Nurses demonstrate compassion when they recognize a client's need and respond appropriately to meet that need. In this situation, although the nurse would realize that certain rules are in place for the protection of clients, the nurse would also recognize the need for compassion. Of the options provided, the most appropriate way to demonstrate compassion would be to seek permission to allow the sibling to visit and see that the infant is alive and being cared for. The nurse would not make the decision without the permission of the management team. Telling the parents what the rules of the unit are will only increase the family's frustration when they are looking to the nurse for assistance. Offering counseling may or may not be an effective means of assisting the family.
D)Compassion, or awareness of and concern about other individuals' suffering, is an important component of professionalism. Nurses demonstrate compassion when they recognize a client's need and respond appropriately to meet that need. In this situation, although the nurse would realize that certain rules are in place for the protection of clients, the nurse would also recognize the need for compassion. Of the options provided, the most appropriate way to demonstrate compassion would be to seek permission to allow the sibling to visit and see that the infant is alive and being cared for. The nurse would not make the decision without the permission of the management team. Telling the parents what the rules of the unit are will only increase the family's frustration when they are looking to the nurse for assistance. Offering counseling may or may not be an effective means of assisting the family.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Critically Ill Infant in the Neonatal