A nurse is discharging a client with a terminal diagnosis to hospice care. During discharge, the client states, “I am so happy to be going home. Fighting this disease was exhausting.” The nurse disagrees with the client’s decision to stop treatment and leave the hospital. What action should the nurse take?

Choice A reason: Asking the healthcare provider to speak with the client implies an attempt to change or challenge the client’s decision. The client has expressed acceptance of their prognosis and a clear preference for hospice care. In this situation, the issue is not lack of understanding or need for further medical clarification, but rather the nurse’s internal disagreement. Therefore, involving the provider is not the most appropriate initial action. Choice B reason: Collaborating with the team to convince the client to stay violates the ethical principle of autonomy. Clients with decision-making capacity have the right to refuse further treatment and choose hospice care. Attempting to persuade or pressure the client to continue treatment disregards their expressed wishes and may cause emotional distress. Choice C reason: When a nurse disagrees with a client’s end-of-life decision, the appropriate action is self-reflection. Examining one’s own values and beliefs about death and dying allows the nurse to provide nonjudgmental, client-centered care. This promotes professional boundaries, respects client autonomy, and ensures that personal beliefs do not interfere with ethical nursing practice. Choice D reason: Consulting the ethics committee is appropriate when there is an ethical conflict, uncertainty about decision-making capacity, or disagreement among parties regarding care. In this case, the client’s wishes are clear and ethically sound. The conflict exists within the nurse, not the care plan, making an ethics consultation unnecessary.