A client scheduled for surgery states, "I will not accept blood products for religious reasons." Which action should the nurse take?
1Remove the blood refusal from the chart until the provider arrives.
2Tell the client the surgery will be cancelled unless blood is accepted.
3Ask the family to persuade the client to sign the consent.
4Notify the surgical team and ensure the preference is clearly documented.✓ Correct answer
Explanation
A competent client has the right to refuse treatment, including blood products. The nurse should communicate and document the preference so the team can plan safe alternatives. Coercion, hiding the preference, or threatening cancellation violates client autonomy.
Clinical Judgment Use the client cues, timing, labs, and safety risks to select the response that best fits Refusal of blood products.
Memory Tip Match the strongest cue cluster to the safest nursing judgment.
KR vs US NCLEX items reward cue-based priority thinking rather than isolated recall.
Clinical Practice GuideFor Refusal of blood products, compare the complete cue pattern with the client's current stability, ordered data, and expected nursing scope.
CautionDo not choose an action from one isolated cue when the full scenario changes priority or safety.
Informed Refusal — A client's decision to decline treatment after receiving understandable information.
Autonomy — The client's right to make informed choices about care.
Blood Product — A transfused component such as packed red blood cells, plasma, or platelets.