Scenario Analysis: This scenario is professionally challenging because it requires balancing the patient’s right to privacy and autonomy with the family’s desire to be involved and informed. Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) must navigate these competing interests while adhering to legal and ethical standards, ensuring patient confidentiality is maintained without alienating supportive family members. The LPN’s judgment is critical in determining the appropriate level and method of family involvement. Correct Approach Analysis: The best professional practice involves obtaining explicit patient consent before sharing any information with family members. This approach respects the patient’s autonomy and privacy rights, which are foundational ethical principles in healthcare. It aligns with the general principles of patient confidentiality and informed consent that govern nursing practice, ensuring that the patient remains in control of their personal health information. This proactive step prevents breaches of privacy and fosters trust between the nurse and the patient. Incorrect Approaches Analysis: Sharing information with the family without the patient’s explicit consent, even if the patient appears to be agreeable or the family is concerned, violates the patient’s right to privacy and confidentiality. This action could lead to a breach of trust and potential legal repercussions. Assuming that because the family is present, they are automatically authorized to receive all patient information disregards the patient’s autonomy and the legal framework surrounding health information disclosure. Patients have the right to decide who has access to their medical details. Limiting all family interaction to only what is absolutely necessary for immediate physical care, without exploring the patient’s wishes regarding family involvement, can be overly restrictive and may neglect the psychosocial benefits that family support can provide to the patient. It fails to consider the patient’s potential desire for family to be part of their care journey. Professional Reasoning: Professionals should employ a patient-centered decision-making framework. This involves first assessing the patient’s capacity to consent. If the patient has capacity, their explicit wishes regarding family involvement and information sharing must be prioritized. If the patient lacks capacity, the LPN should consult established protocols for surrogate decision-making, which typically involve designated legal representatives or next of kin, while still striving to involve the family in a manner that aligns with the patient’s presumed best interests and prior expressed wishes, if known. Open communication with the patient and their family, guided by ethical principles and regulatory requirements, is paramount.

Scenario Analysis: This scenario is professionally challenging because it requires the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to balance the immediate physiological needs of a patient with their psychosocial and safety needs, all within the framework of Maslow’s Hierarchy. The LPN must prioritize interventions effectively, recognizing that neglecting one level can negatively impact the patient’s overall well-being and recovery. The challenge lies in discerning which needs are most pressing and how addressing them aligns with ethical nursing practice and patient-centered care. Correct Approach Analysis: The best approach involves prioritizing the patient’s immediate physiological needs while simultaneously assessing and addressing safety concerns. This aligns with the fundamental ethical and professional responsibility of a nurse to ensure patient safety and provide basic care. Addressing the patient’s hunger (physiological need) by offering food, and ensuring their immediate environment is safe by checking the call bell and assisting with positioning, directly tackles the foundational levels of Maslow’s hierarchy. This proactive and comprehensive assessment demonstrates an understanding that physiological stability is a prerequisite for addressing higher-level needs and that safety is paramount in all nursing care. This approach is ethically justified by the nursing code of conduct, which emphasizes patient safety and well-being, and is supported by the principle of beneficence, acting in the patient’s best interest. Incorrect Approaches Analysis: Focusing solely on the patient’s expressed desire for social interaction without first addressing their hunger and ensuring their safety would be an ethical failure. While social interaction is important for psychological well-being (belongingness and love needs), neglecting immediate physiological needs like hunger and failing to ensure a safe environment directly contravenes the LPN’s primary duty of care. This approach prioritizes a higher-level need over foundational ones, potentially leading to patient distress, discomfort, and even harm. Another incorrect approach would be to ignore the patient’s hunger and focus only on ensuring their room is tidy and their personal belongings are organized. While a clean and organized environment can contribute to a sense of security (safety needs), it fails to address the pressing physiological need for nourishment. This demonstrates a lack of holistic assessment and prioritization, potentially leading to the patient experiencing significant discomfort and weakness due to hunger, which would impede their ability to engage in any other activity or feel secure. Finally, simply documenting the patient’s hunger and desire for social interaction without taking any action would be a significant breach of professional responsibility. Documentation is crucial, but it is not a substitute for direct patient care and intervention. This passive approach fails to meet the patient’s immediate needs and neglects the LPN’s ethical obligation to provide care and advocate for the patient. Professional Reasoning: Professionals should employ a systematic approach to patient care, beginning with a thorough assessment of immediate physiological needs and safety concerns. This involves utilizing the nursing process: assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. When faced with multiple patient needs, professionals should prioritize based on the hierarchy of needs, recognizing that foundational physiological and safety needs must be met before higher-level psychosocial needs can be effectively addressed. Ethical principles such as beneficence, non-maleficence, and patient advocacy should guide all decision-making. Regular reassessment and communication with the patient and the healthcare team are also critical components of effective professional practice.

Scenario Analysis: This scenario is professionally challenging because it requires the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to balance the patient’s immediate need for comfort and safety with the potential risks associated with unapproved interventions. The LPN must exercise sound clinical judgment, adhering strictly to established protocols and the scope of practice, while also demonstrating empathy and responsiveness to the patient’s distress. Failure to do so could compromise patient safety, violate professional standards, and lead to adverse outcomes. Correct Approach Analysis: The best professional practice involves immediately assessing the patient’s situation to understand the cause of their agitation and distress. This assessment should then inform a decision to implement non-pharmacological interventions that are within the LPN’s scope of practice and align with the patient’s care plan. If these interventions are insufficient, the LPN must then communicate their findings and concerns to the registered nurse or physician, who can then authorize or prescribe further interventions, such as medication. This approach is correct because it prioritizes patient safety by starting with the least invasive measures, ensures adherence to the established chain of command and scope of practice, and promotes collaborative care. It aligns with ethical principles of beneficence (acting in the patient’s best interest) and non-maleficence (avoiding harm) by systematically addressing the patient’s needs while mitigating risks. Regulatory frameworks for LPNs universally emphasize working under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician and adhering to established policies and procedures, especially when patient safety is a concern. Incorrect Approaches Analysis: Implementing an unapproved sedative without physician or registered nurse authorization is a significant regulatory and ethical failure. This action directly violates the LPN’s scope of practice, which typically prohibits independent administration of medications without a valid order. It bypasses the established chain of command, preventing proper assessment and oversight by higher-level healthcare professionals. This could lead to medication errors, adverse drug reactions, and a failure to address the underlying cause of the patient’s distress, thereby violating the principles of patient safety and professional accountability. Ignoring the patient’s distress and continuing with routine tasks without any intervention is also professionally unacceptable. While adherence to protocol is crucial, LPNs have a responsibility to respond to changes in a patient’s condition and to advocate for their needs. This approach demonstrates a lack of empathy and a failure to recognize potential safety risks, potentially violating ethical obligations to provide compassionate care and ensure patient well-being. It also fails to uphold the professional standard of continuous patient monitoring and assessment. Administering a sedative that is not specifically ordered for this patient, even if it is available in the facility, is a serious breach of protocol and patient safety. This constitutes practicing outside the scope of the LPN’s authority and bypasses the critical step of obtaining a specific order for the medication, dose, and route. It also fails to consider potential contraindications or interactions with the patient’s current medications or conditions, which would be part of a proper medical order and assessment. This action is a direct violation of medication administration policies and patient safety regulations. Professional Reasoning: Professionals should employ a systematic approach to patient care that begins with thorough assessment. When faced with a patient exhibiting distress, the first step is always to understand the cause. This involves observation, communication with the patient (if possible), and review of their chart. Following assessment, interventions should be chosen based on their appropriateness for the LPN’s scope of practice and the patient’s care plan. If the situation requires interventions beyond the LPN’s scope, the professional’s responsibility is to communicate effectively and promptly with the appropriate healthcare provider (e.g., registered nurse, physician) to obtain necessary orders or guidance. This ensures patient safety, maintains professional integrity, and upholds regulatory compliance.

This scenario is professionally challenging because it requires the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to balance the patient’s immediate physical needs with their fundamental psychosocial needs, specifically the need for love and belonging. The LPN must navigate the ethical imperative to provide compassionate care while respecting patient autonomy and the potential impact of their actions on the patient’s emotional well-being and social connections. Careful judgment is required to ensure that care interventions do not inadvertently isolate the patient or undermine their sense of connection. The best professional approach involves actively facilitating the patient’s social connections and emotional support systems. This includes encouraging visits from family and friends, assisting the patient in communicating with loved ones, and creating opportunities for social interaction within the healthcare setting, such as group activities if appropriate and safe. This approach is correct because it directly addresses the patient’s love and belonging needs as outlined by Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, which is a foundational concept in patient-centered care. Furthermore, professional nursing standards and ethical codes emphasize the importance of holistic care, which encompasses psychosocial well-being. By prioritizing these connections, the LPN upholds the patient’s dignity and promotes their overall recovery and quality of life. An incorrect approach would be to focus solely on the patient’s physical care without acknowledging or addressing their psychosocial needs. This failure to consider the patient’s emotional state and need for connection can lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and depression, negatively impacting their recovery. Ethically, this neglects the holistic aspect of care. Another incorrect approach is to assume the patient’s family or friends are solely responsible for providing emotional support and to disengage from facilitating these connections. This abdicates the LPN’s professional responsibility to advocate for the patient’s psychosocial well-being and can lead to a breakdown in communication and support. Finally, an approach that prioritizes efficiency over compassionate interaction, such as rushing through patient interactions or limiting opportunities for communication with loved ones, is also professionally unacceptable. This demonstrates a lack of empathy and fails to recognize the critical role of social support in patient healing. Professional decision-making in such situations should involve a systematic assessment of the patient’s psychosocial needs, followed by the development of a care plan that integrates these needs with physical care. This requires open communication with the patient and their support network, collaboration with other healthcare professionals, and a commitment to providing care that is both clinically sound and emotionally supportive.

This scenario presents a professional challenge because it requires the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to navigate the complex interplay between a patient’s psychological needs and their physical care, specifically addressing esteem needs within the context of a chronic illness. The LPN must balance the immediate demands of medical treatment with the patient’s emotional well-being and sense of self-worth, which can be significantly impacted by their condition and the healthcare environment. Careful judgment is required to ensure that care is holistic and respects the patient’s dignity. The best professional approach involves actively seeking opportunities to involve the patient in their care planning and decision-making, acknowledging their contributions and expertise regarding their own body and experiences. This approach directly addresses esteem needs by validating the patient’s autonomy and inherent worth. It aligns with ethical principles of patient-centered care, respect for persons, and the promotion of self-determination, which are fundamental to nursing practice. By empowering the patient and recognizing their value, the LPN fosters a sense of control and dignity, crucial for their psychological recovery and overall well-being. An incorrect approach would be to focus solely on the physical aspects of care, providing information and performing tasks without actively soliciting the patient’s input or acknowledging their feelings about their condition. This neglects the patient’s esteem needs, potentially leading to feelings of powerlessness, dehumanization, and decreased adherence to treatment. Ethically, this fails to treat the patient as a whole person with emotional and psychological dimensions. Another incorrect approach would be to dismiss the patient’s concerns about their appearance or social interactions as secondary to their medical condition. While the medical needs are paramount, ignoring the impact of the illness on the patient’s self-perception and social functioning directly undermines their esteem needs. This can lead to social withdrawal and a diminished sense of self, which are detrimental to their recovery and quality of life. This approach violates the ethical duty to provide compassionate and holistic care. A further incorrect approach would be to make decisions for the patient without adequate consultation, assuming that their illness renders them incapable of participating in their own care. This paternalistic stance disregards the patient’s right to self-determination and can erode their confidence and self-esteem. It fails to recognize that individuals, even when ill, retain their inherent dignity and capacity for making choices about their lives. The professional decision-making process for similar situations should involve a continuous assessment of the patient’s physical, emotional, and social needs. It requires active listening, empathetic communication, and a commitment to patient advocacy. The LPN should always strive to understand the patient’s perspective, involve them in goal setting, and provide care that respects their dignity and promotes their sense of self-worth. This involves recognizing that esteem needs are integral to overall health and recovery.

Scenario Analysis: This scenario is professionally challenging because it requires the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to navigate the complex interplay between a patient’s expressed desire for self-actualization and the LPN’s scope of practice, ethical obligations, and the established care plan. Balancing patient autonomy with the need for safe and appropriate care, especially when the patient’s desires may extend beyond the LPN’s direct capabilities or the current treatment goals, demands careful judgment and adherence to professional standards. The LPN must recognize the patient’s intrinsic motivation while ensuring that interventions are within their legal and ethical boundaries. Correct Approach Analysis: The best professional approach involves actively listening to the patient’s aspirations for self-actualization, validating their feelings, and then collaboratively exploring how these aspirations can be integrated into the existing care plan or addressed through appropriate referrals. This approach is correct because it upholds the ethical principle of patient autonomy by acknowledging and respecting the patient’s desires. It also aligns with the LPN’s professional responsibility to provide holistic care, which includes addressing psychosocial needs. By exploring integration within the care plan or seeking appropriate referrals, the LPN demonstrates an understanding of their scope of practice and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring that the patient’s needs are met safely and effectively. This aligns with nursing codes of ethics that emphasize patient-centered care and advocacy. Incorrect Approaches Analysis: One incorrect approach is to dismiss the patient’s aspirations as unrealistic or irrelevant to their current medical condition. This fails to acknowledge the patient’s inherent dignity and their right to pursue personal growth, even within the context of illness. Ethically, this approach violates the principle of respect for persons and can lead to patient disengagement and a sense of being unheard. It also overlooks the potential positive impact of pursuing meaningful activities on a patient’s overall well-being and recovery. Another incorrect approach is to attempt to directly facilitate activities that are outside the LPN’s scope of practice or require specialized expertise, such as providing advanced therapeutic counseling or career guidance. This is professionally unacceptable because it could lead to providing care that is not evidence-based, potentially ineffective, or even harmful to the patient. It also represents a failure to adhere to the legal and regulatory boundaries of the LPN role, which are designed to protect patient safety. A third incorrect approach is to simply document the patient’s expressed desires without taking any further action or exploring potential avenues for support. While documentation is crucial, it is insufficient on its own. This passive approach fails to advocate for the patient’s needs and misses opportunities to enhance their quality of life and promote their sense of purpose. It neglects the LPN’s ethical duty to act in the patient’s best interest and to facilitate access to appropriate resources. Professional Reasoning: Professionals should employ a decision-making framework that prioritizes patient-centered care, ethical principles, and adherence to scope of practice. This involves: 1) Active Listening and Validation: Genuinely hearing and acknowledging the patient’s expressed needs and desires. 2) Assessment of Scope and Resources: Determining what aspects of the patient’s aspirations can be addressed within the LPN’s scope of practice and identifying available resources or referral pathways for those that cannot. 3) Collaborative Planning: Working with the patient and the interdisciplinary team to integrate achievable goals into the care plan or to facilitate access to appropriate support services. 4) Documentation and Advocacy: Meticulously documenting all discussions and actions, and advocating for the patient’s needs throughout the care process.

The review process indicates a scenario where a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is tasked with managing a patient’s physiological needs, specifically hydration, in a setting where the patient’s ability to communicate their thirst is compromised due to a recent stroke. This situation is professionally challenging because it requires the LPN to move beyond simply following explicit patient requests and instead necessitates proactive assessment, critical thinking, and anticipation of needs based on physiological indicators and the patient’s condition. The risk of dehydration is significant, potentially leading to serious complications like electrolyte imbalances, confusion, and impaired recovery, underscoring the need for careful judgment and adherence to best practices. The best professional approach involves a comprehensive assessment of the patient’s hydration status, considering their recent stroke, potential swallowing difficulties, and any prescribed fluid restrictions. This includes regular monitoring of vital signs, skin turgor, urine output and color, and mucous membrane moisture. Based on these objective findings and the patient’s medical history, the LPN should then implement a proactive fluid management plan, offering fluids at regular intervals, considering the patient’s preferred fluids and appropriate consistency, and documenting intake meticulously. This approach aligns with the ethical principle of beneficence, ensuring the patient’s well-being is prioritized, and the professional standard of care which mandates proactive monitoring and intervention for physiological needs, especially in vulnerable patients. It also adheres to nursing scope of practice guidelines that emphasize assessment and implementation of care plans to meet basic physiological needs. An incorrect approach would be to solely rely on the patient’s verbal cues for hydration. While patient communication is important, a stroke can significantly impair a patient’s ability to express thirst or even recognize their own need for fluids. Waiting for the patient to explicitly ask for water, especially if they are experiencing aphasia or cognitive changes post-stroke, could lead to delayed intervention and dehydration. This fails to meet the professional obligation to anticipate and address potential health risks proactively. Another incorrect approach would be to administer fluids without considering potential swallowing difficulties or prescribed fluid restrictions. A patient who has had a stroke may be at risk for aspiration, and administering fluids without assessing their swallowing ability could lead to aspiration pneumonia, a serious and potentially life-threatening complication. Similarly, ignoring prescribed fluid restrictions could lead to fluid overload and other complications, demonstrating a failure to adhere to the medical plan of care. Finally, an incorrect approach would be to delegate the primary responsibility of monitoring hydration to an unlicensed assistive personnel without providing clear, specific instructions and without the LPN retaining ultimate accountability for the patient’s hydration status. While UAP can assist with offering fluids, the LPN must ensure the assessment and evaluation of the patient’s hydration are performed by a licensed professional. The professional decision-making process for similar situations should involve a systematic approach: first, conduct a thorough assessment of the patient’s current physiological state and any contributing factors (like the stroke). Second, identify potential risks and needs based on the assessment. Third, develop and implement a care plan that addresses these needs proactively, considering safety and patient preferences. Fourth, continuously monitor the patient’s response to interventions and adjust the plan as necessary. Finally, document all assessments, interventions, and patient responses accurately and comprehensively.

This scenario is professionally challenging because it requires the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to navigate a situation where a patient’s expressed wishes conflict with the perceived best interests of the patient, as interpreted by a family member. Balancing patient autonomy with the duty of care, while respecting family dynamics and ensuring accurate information transfer, demands careful judgment and adherence to ethical and professional standards. The approach that represents best professional practice involves directly addressing the patient’s concerns and preferences while acknowledging the family member’s involvement. This means the LPN should engage in a private conversation with the patient to understand their wishes and concerns regarding the information being shared with the family. Following this, the LPN should facilitate a discussion between the patient and the family, with the patient’s consent, to clarify what information the patient is comfortable sharing and why. This approach upholds the principle of patient autonomy, as enshrined in nursing practice standards and ethical codes, which prioritize the patient’s right to self-determination and informed consent regarding their healthcare information. It also aligns with the legal and ethical obligation to maintain patient confidentiality, ensuring that information is only disclosed with the patient’s permission. An incorrect approach would be to immediately relay all information to the family member without first confirming the patient’s consent or understanding their wishes. This failure violates the patient’s right to privacy and confidentiality, which are fundamental ethical and legal tenets in nursing practice. It undermines patient autonomy by prioritizing the family member’s perceived needs over the patient’s control over their personal health information. Another incorrect approach would be to dismiss the family member’s concerns outright and refuse to engage with them at all. While patient confidentiality is paramount, a complete refusal to communicate with a concerned family member, especially when the patient has not explicitly forbidden it, can be detrimental to the therapeutic relationship and the patient’s overall care. It fails to acknowledge the supportive role families can play and may lead to misunderstandings or distress for both the family and the patient. A further incorrect approach would be to assume the family member has the legal authority to make healthcare decisions or dictate information disclosure without verifying this status. LPNs must be aware of legal frameworks regarding healthcare decision-making and power of attorney. Acting on assumptions without proper verification can lead to legal repercussions and ethical breaches, as it bypasses established protocols for patient advocacy and consent. The professional reasoning process for similar situations should begin with identifying the core ethical and legal principles at play: patient autonomy, confidentiality, beneficence, and non-maleficence. The LPN should then assess the immediate situation, considering the patient’s capacity to communicate and make decisions. Next, they should prioritize direct communication with the patient to ascertain their wishes and understanding. If the patient consents, facilitating open communication between the patient and family, with the patient guiding the disclosure, is the most appropriate course of action. If the patient lacks capacity, established protocols for surrogate decision-making and family involvement must be followed, always with the patient’s best interests as the primary consideration.

This scenario is professionally challenging because it requires the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to differentiate between a patient’s subjective report of symptoms and objective clinical findings, while also recognizing the scope of practice limitations. The LPN must act responsibly and ethically, ensuring patient safety and appropriate care escalation without overstepping professional boundaries. Careful judgment is required to avoid misinterpreting symptoms or delaying necessary interventions. The best professional approach involves the LPN accurately documenting the patient’s subjective report of symptoms, performing a focused assessment within their scope of practice, and then communicating these findings and their assessment to the Registered Nurse (RN) or physician. This approach is correct because it adheres to the LPN’s scope of practice, which includes data collection and reporting, but not independent diagnosis or treatment planning. The LPN’s role is to gather information and contribute to the overall patient assessment, ensuring that the appropriate healthcare professional makes the definitive diagnosis and treatment decisions. This aligns with ethical principles of patient advocacy and professional responsibility, as well as regulatory guidelines that define LPN responsibilities in patient care. An incorrect approach involves the LPN attempting to make a definitive diagnosis based solely on the patient’s subjective complaints and limited objective data. This is professionally unacceptable because it exceeds the LPN’s scope of practice, which prohibits independent diagnosis. Such an action could lead to incorrect treatment, delayed appropriate care, and potential harm to the patient. Another incorrect approach is for the LPN to dismiss the patient’s subjective complaints without performing any assessment or seeking further evaluation. This is professionally unacceptable as it violates the ethical duty to provide care and respond to patient needs. It demonstrates a failure to advocate for the patient and could result in a missed or delayed diagnosis, negatively impacting patient outcomes. A further incorrect approach involves the LPN immediately administering medication or initiating a treatment plan without consulting with the RN or physician. This is professionally unacceptable because it bypasses the established chain of command and the diagnostic process. It also exceeds the LPN’s scope of practice, as treatment decisions should be based on a physician’s or RN’s diagnosis and orders. The professional reasoning process for similar situations should involve: 1) Actively listening to and documenting the patient’s subjective report. 2) Performing a focused assessment within the LPN’s scope of practice. 3) Analyzing the collected data in conjunction with the patient’s report. 4) Recognizing the limitations of the LPN’s scope of practice regarding diagnosis and treatment. 5) Communicating findings and concerns clearly and promptly to the appropriate healthcare provider (RN or physician). 6) Following up to ensure appropriate actions are taken.

This scenario is professionally challenging because it requires the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to navigate a patient’s emotional distress while upholding professional boundaries and ensuring accurate information exchange. The LPN must balance empathy with the need for objective assessment and appropriate intervention, avoiding personal involvement that could compromise care. Careful judgment is required to discern when to offer support and when to involve other healthcare professionals. The best approach involves actively listening to the patient’s concerns, acknowledging their feelings without judgment, and then gently redirecting the conversation towards gathering relevant clinical information or identifying needs that can be addressed within the LPN’s scope of practice. This technique, often termed empathetic listening and therapeutic redirection, is correct because it validates the patient’s experience, builds trust, and allows the LPN to gather necessary data for care planning. It aligns with ethical principles of patient-centered care and professional conduct, emphasizing respect for the patient’s autonomy and dignity. By focusing on the patient’s immediate needs and concerns in a supportive yet professional manner, the LPN can effectively manage the interaction and facilitate appropriate care. An incorrect approach involves becoming overly involved in the patient’s personal life, offering unsolicited advice on non-medical matters, or sharing personal experiences. This fails to maintain professional boundaries, potentially leading to a blurred therapeutic relationship and compromising the LPN’s objectivity. It can also lead to the LPN exceeding their scope of practice and may violate professional conduct guidelines that mandate maintaining professional distance and focusing on patient care. Another incorrect approach is to dismiss or minimize the patient’s expressed emotions, perhaps by changing the subject abruptly or offering platitudes. This can make the patient feel unheard and invalidated, damaging the therapeutic alliance and potentially increasing their distress. It neglects the importance of emotional support in holistic patient care and can be perceived as unprofessional and lacking in empathy. A further incorrect approach is to immediately refer the patient to a mental health professional without attempting to understand the nature of their distress or offering initial support within the LPN’s scope. While referrals are sometimes necessary, a complete lack of initial engagement can be perceived as abandonment and may not address immediate, solvable concerns that fall within the LPN’s purview. Professional decision-making in such situations involves a systematic process: first, assess the patient’s immediate emotional state and the nature of their expressed concerns. Second, determine if the concerns are within the LPN’s scope of practice to address or offer support for. Third, employ therapeutic communication techniques to validate feelings and gather relevant information. Fourth, if the situation warrants, collaborate with the healthcare team, including physicians or mental health professionals, for further assessment and intervention, ensuring continuity of care.