A nurse in an emergency department is caring for a client who is unconscious and requires emergency medical procedures. The nurse is unable to locate members of the client’s family to obtain consent. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A.
Contact the facility’s ethics committee
B.
Obtain consent from the client’s employer
C.
Limit care to comfort measures
D.
Proceed with provision of medical care
The correct answer is:
D. Proceed with provision of medical care
Explanation:
- D. Proceed with provision of medical care: In emergency situations where a client is unconscious and immediate medical procedures are necessary to prevent harm or provide essential treatment, consent is implied under the doctrine of implied consent. This allows healthcare providers to proceed with life-saving interventions even if the client or their family cannot be contacted.
- A. Contact the facility’s ethics committee: While this may be an appropriate step in some ethical dilemmas, in an emergency situation where immediate action is required, the primary focus should be on providing the necessary medical care. The ethics committee can be consulted later if needed.
- B. Obtain consent from the client’s employer: The client’s employer does not have the legal authority to provide consent for medical procedures.
- C. Limit care to comfort measures: In an emergency situation, limiting care to comfort measures may not be appropriate if urgent medical interventions are needed to save the client’s life or prevent serious harm.
Therefore, the appropriate action is to D. Proceed with provision of medical care.