A 42-year-old woman is pregnant for the first time.She says,"I don't want any prenatal genetic testing.I don't want to know." How should the nurse respond?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse should respect the patient's autonomy and decision-making process. As long as the patient has been informed about the risks and benefits of testing, and has made an informed decision to decline, the nurse should support and respect her decision. However, the nurse should provide information and education to the patient about routine prenatal testing and encourage her to ask questions if she changes her mind or has concerns. It is not appropriate to try to convince the patient to consider testing, withhold information, or involve social services without legal cause.

A 42-Year-Old Woman Is Pregnant for the First Time