Care Manager Certification Practice Exam

What role does a nurse play when they assist a client in making decisions about their treatment options?

1. Advocate

2. Educator

3. Advisor

4. Researcher

The correct answer is: Advocate

The role of a nurse as an advocate is crucial when assisting a client in making decisions about their treatment options. Advocacy involves representing the client's interests and ensuring they have all the necessary information to make informed choices about their care. Nurses facilitate this process by providing support, expressing the client's preferences, and ensuring that their values and needs are taken into consideration by the healthcare team. While education is also a vital aspect of nursing, the emphasis in this scenario is on the nurse's role in upholding the client’s voice in their healthcare decisions. Advocating encompasses elements of education, but it specifically targets the protection and empowerment of the client in the decision-making process. This means actively promoting the client's rights and needs and helping them navigate complex healthcare choices. In this context, the roles of advisor and researcher do not encapsulate the primary responsibility of the nurse when it comes to directly aiding clients in their decision-making. An advisor may provide suggestions based on knowledge but may not engage in the active support or representation that advocacy encompasses. Similarly, a researcher focuses more on data and outcomes rather than directly interacting with clients about their treatment options. Thus, advocacy stands out as the key role in helping clients navigate their healthcare decisions effectively.