A nurse on a medical-surgical unit is caring for a client who tells the nurse about their intentions to harm an ex-partner. Which of the following actions is a legal duty of the nurse?

Choice A reason: Hospitalization may be appropriate depending on the client's mental status, but it is not the primary legal duty. Involuntary hospitalization requires specific criteria and legal procedures. Choice B reason: The duty to warn, established by the Tarasoff ruling, obligates healthcare professionals to notify identifiable individuals who are threatened by a client. This is a legal and ethical responsibility when the threat is credible and specific. Choice C reason: Delegating monitoring to a friend or family member does not fulfill the nurse’s legal obligation and may compromise safety. Choice D reason: Transferring to a mental health facility may be part of the care plan, but it does not directly address the legal duty to warn the threatened individual.