A 28-year-old mother of three children, ages 9,5 and 2 years is admitted to the hospital’s
surgical unit from the Emergency Department (ED) with symptoms of epigastric pain, nausea
and vomiting of two days duration. Diagnostic tests reveal acute cholecystitis; the client is
scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. During the admission assessment, the client
expresses concern about her partner’s ability to care for her children. She also appears worried
about how she will manage at home after she is discharged. The nurse offers to contact the
client’s husband. Additionally, she places a request for a Social Service Consult, suggesting a
family meeting and Visiting Nursing services be arranged. Questions:
1. What assumptions on the part of the nurse are being made here?
2. Incorporate the Code of Ethics, particularly the ethical principles of beneficence,
fidelity, autonomy and justice, that play into this scenario and how the nurse might
better assess and intervene in this situation?
3. In what way/s does the Code of Ethics help guide the nurse in addressing this issue?
Please cite the literature. Identify yourself as “This writer” / “The nurse “ /or
“Nurses” in your response, NOT “I”/ “you”/ “we” or “they”.