A nurse is counseling an older female patient hospitalized for dehydration secondary to a urinary tract infection. The patient tells the nurse: “I don’t like being in the hospital. There are too many...

A nurse is counseling an older female patient hospitalized
for dehydration secondary to a urinary tract infection. The
patient tells the nurse: “I don’t like being in the hospital.
There are too many bad bugs in here. I’ll probably go home
sicker than I came in.” She also insists that she is going
to get dressed and go home. She has the capacity to make
these decisions. What is the legal responsibility of the nurse
in this situation?
a. To inform the patient that only the primary health care
provider can authorize discharge from a hospital

b. To collect the patient’s belongings and prepare the paper-
work for the patient’s discharge

c. To request a psych consult for the patient and inform her
primary care provider of the results
d. To explain that the choice carries a risk for increased
complications and make sure that the patient has signed a
release form