護理師照護一位剛診斷為肺癌第四期的病人。病人問護理師：「我會死嗎？」護理師的哪項回答最能體現「誠信原則」(Veracity)？
A nurse is caring for a client with a new diagnosis of Stage IV lung cancer. The client asks the nurse, 'Am I going to die?' Which response by the nurse best demonstrates the principle of Veracity?
- A‘The doctor will be here soon to talk about your prognosis.’醫師很快就會來跟您談論您的預後。
- B‘Everyone dies eventually; you shouldn't worry about that right now.’每個人最終都會死亡；您現在不應該為此擔心。
- C‘Many people live for a long time with this type of cancer.’許多患有此類型癌症的人可以存活很長時間。
- D‘This is a very serious diagnosis, and your condition is terminal.’✓ 正解這是一個非常嚴重的診斷，您的狀況已是末期。
誠信原則（Veracity）指的是護理人員在與病人溝通時必須說實話、不隱瞞真相。第四期肺癌（Stage IV）在醫學上通常被定義為晚期/末期。雖然護理師在給予真相時應具備同理心，但在 NCLEX 的倫理考題中，Veracity 要求的是「不迴避事實」。選項 B 是敷衍；選項 A 是推卸責任；選項 C 是給予虛假的希望。雖然 C 看起來很直接甚至有些殘酷，但在倫理學定義中，它是唯一誠實面對疾病本質的回答。臨床思路應在於：尊重病人的知情權，為後續的臨終關懷與安寧醫療鋪路。
The principle of veracity requires that nurses tell the truth and not conceal facts when communicating with clients. Stage IV lung cancer is generally defined medically as advanced/terminal disease. Although the nurse should provide truth with empathy, in NCLEX ethics items, veracity demands not avoiding the facts. Option B is a brush-off; option A shifts responsibility; option C provides false hope. Although C may appear blunt or even harsh, by the ethical definition it is the only response that honestly addresses the nature of the illness. The clinical reasoning should be: respect the client's right to know and pave the way for subsequent end-of-life care and hospice planning.
美國護理教育極度強調「直接溝通」，即使是負面消息也傾向誠實告知。台灣文化受「隱惡揚善」與「保護心態」影響，護理師常會選擇溫和或委婉的推託（如選項 A），但在 NCLEX 中，這會被視為不誠實。