A nurse is caring for a client whose partner recently died. The nurse sits with the client to provide comfort. Which of the following ethical principles is the nurse demonstrating?

A. Beneficence: Sitting with the client to provide comfort demonstrates beneficence, which involves actions that promote the well-being and best interests of the client, including offering emotional support during difficult times. B. Fidelity: Fidelity refers to the nurse’s obligation to be faithful and keep promises made to the client, which involves trustworthiness but does not specifically address providing comfort through presence. C. Veracity: Veracity is the ethical principle of truth-telling and honesty. Providing comfort by sitting with the client is supportive but not directly related to truthfulness. D. Autonomy: Autonomy concerns respecting the client’s right to make independent decisions about their care. Offering comfort by presence supports emotional needs but does not directly involve respecting autonomy.