Chapter 23, Problem 1CAQ

Summary Introduction

To determine:

The priority points that the nurse should ensure that the patient should receive before witnessing the informed consent?

Concept introduction:

The nurse working in the first shift on the hematology-oncology unit assigned with three patients. The nurse is provided with a nursing assistant. Patient no.1 scheduled for surgery later need to undergo biopsy surgery and he should be signed in a consent before surgery. Patient no.2 receiving blood products for his HIV infections and his vital signs should be monitored. Patient no.3 an 83-year-old confused man lying on floor seeking help to go the restroom.

Explanation of Solution

In general, the physicians what is performing the biopsy is responsible for providing informed consent to the patient about the procedure. The nurse can be a witness of the signing and must assess the following. The nurse should see that the patient’s signature is authentic and he is voluntarily signing the consent in the conscious stage. The nurse should ask the patient if he understands the procedure that is about to be performed.  If the patient is not cooperating any of the steps the nurse should notify this to the physician. As a duty of a nurse she should inform the patient about:

• The details of the surgical procedure to be done
• Physician name and his qualifications, experience who is about to do surgery to the patient.
• The nurse should explain the serious harm, including death that could occur as a result of the procedure and any pain associated with the procedure.
• The patient should be aware of the fact that they have a right to refuse the procedure.
• The patient gets a list of alternative therapies to the procedure and the risks of not doing any procedures.
• The patient can refuse the procedure even once it begins.

Conclusion

The nurse should explain all the medical procedures that will be done during biopsy, its health risks, and as well as more positive results of the surgery to encourage the patient.