A hospitalized client with a history of alcohol abuse tells the nurse, I am leaving now. I don't ...

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Rationale: The nurse should call the nursing supervisor. When clients leave against medical ad-vice (AMA), most health care facilities have documents relating to the client's responsibilities, which the client is asked to sign before leaving. The nurse should request that the client speak to the physician before leaving, but if the client refuses, the nurse cannot hold the client against his or her will. Any client has a right to health care and cannot be told otherwise (tell the client that readmission is not possible after leaving against medical advice (AMA)). A nurse can be charged with false imprisonment if a client is made to wrongfully believe that he or she cannot leave the hospital (restrain the client, and call the physician and call security to block the exits to the nursing unit).