A home care nurse visits a client who is confined to bed and is cared for by her daughter. The daughter is known to suffer from chemical dependence. The home is cluttered and unclean. During the assessment the nurse notes that the client is wet with urine and has dried feces on her buttocks, and demonstrates signs of dehydration. After caring for the client, the nurse contacts the physician and reports the incident to Adult Protective Services. This is an example of which ethical framework?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse's actions are based on the ethical principle of nonmaleficence, which requires preventing harm to the client. The nurse assessed the client's condition and found her to be in a state of neglect that could lead to harm, so the nurse took steps to report the incident and protect the client from harm.

A Home Care Nurse Visits a Client Who Is Confined