The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient with Liver Failure

Multiple Choice

The nurse is caring for a patient with liver failure who is unconscious. The patient's girlfriend of 12 years has been making health care decisions. The patient is still legally married, and his wife whom he has not seen in 20 years shows up and wants to take over in making medical decisions. Which action should the nurse take?

A) Provide care according to the girlfriend's wishes.
B) Ask the charge nurse to assign another nurse to care for the patient.
C) Ask for an ethics committee consult.
D) Ignore both parties and provide care based on the nurse's own values.