What should the nurse practitioner do when a 17-year-old requests an eyebrow piercing and the mother objects?

What should the nurse practitioner do when a 17-year-old requests an eyebrow piercing and the mother objects?

• A. Remind the adolescent that her mother is responsible for her health.
• B. Wait until the teen is 18 to make decisions.
• C. State that piercings are relatively harmless.
• D. Provide information about piercings and encourage continued discussion.

Answer: (D)

Promoting informed, collaborative decision-making with adolescents and their parents. The best approach is for the nurse practitioner to provide balanced, accurate information about eyebrow piercings—what they involve, potential benefits for self-expression, and the risks such as infection, bleeding, scarring, allergic reactions to metals, migration, and the importance of proper, licensed placement and aftercare. By sharing this information and inviting both the teen and the mother into the discussion, the provider supports the teen’s emerging autonomy while helping the family address safety concerns. Encouraging ongoing conversation respects the teen’s right to participate in decisions about her body and helps reach a plan that everyone can consent to together. Rationale for not choosing the other approaches: Simply reminding the adolescent that the mother is responsible shifts responsibility away from safety and education and undermines open dialogue. Waiting until age 18 ignores the teen’s current health needs and autonomy. Stating that piercings are relatively harmless provides a misleading sense of safety and does not address real risks or the need for informed care.

Promoting informed, collaborative decision-making with adolescents and their parents. The best approach is for the nurse practitioner to provide balanced, accurate information about eyebrow piercings—what they involve, potential benefits for self-expression, and the risks such as infection, bleeding, scarring, allergic reactions to metals, migration, and the importance of proper, licensed placement and aftercare. By sharing this information and inviting both the teen and the mother into the discussion, the provider supports the teen’s emerging autonomy while helping the family address safety concerns. Encouraging ongoing conversation respects the teen’s right to participate in decisions about her body and helps reach a plan that everyone can consent to together.

Rationale for not choosing the other approaches: Simply reminding the adolescent that the mother is responsible shifts responsibility away from safety and education and undermines open dialogue. Waiting until age 18 ignores the teen’s current health needs and autonomy. Stating that piercings are relatively harmless provides a misleading sense of safety and does not address real risks or the need for informed care.