When PAD is legal but a nurse is uncomfortable, what is appropriate for a nurse?

• A. Refuse to participate entirely, regardless of patient needs.
• B. When PAD is legal but a nurse is uncomfortable, follow legal requirements and seek alternatives or reassignment.
• C. Coerce the patient to reconsider.
• D. Imitate patient decisions without seeking consent.

Answer: (B)

The situation tests how a nurse handles conscience and patient access to legally allowed care. When a procedure like PAD is legal but the nurse feels uncomfortable, the appropriate course is to follow legal requirements and the facility’s policies while ensuring the patient can obtain the care they choose. This means speaking with a supervisor or ethics/administration and arranging for alternatives or reassignment to a clinician who can participate, so the patient’s access isn’t blocked. It also means continuing to provide care in other areas, communicating clearly with the patient, and documenting decisions, without pressuring or coercing the patient or trying to imitate or override their choices. This balance respects both the nurse’s moral integrity and the patient’s autonomy and legal rights.