The nurse acknowledges that the signature of a client for an informed consent form can be obtained by:

Question

a. anyone who is not related to the client
b. only the nurse who will be caring for the client when the treatment or surgery occurs
c. the health care provider, nurse, or another hospital representative
d. only the health care provider who will be performing the procedure

Answer 1

C
Informed consent refers to the ability of a competent client to make health care decisions based on an understanding of the benefits, risks, and potential consequences of a proposed plan of care and alternatives to the plan, and to express agreement to pursue a course of action. For certain medical or surgical treatments or procedures, the client's consent is obtained in writing on a form; the physician who will perform the procedure is responsible for explaining the procedure and its risks and benefits to the client and for obtaining the client's signature. Nurses must obtain consent from clients for performing nursing procedures, indicating what will be done; failure to do so could result in a charge of battery. The client's consent to these procedures may be given verbally or implied by the client's willingness to cooperate. The nurse must also be aware of special circumstances in which consent must be obtained, such as emergency treatment of minors or adults who are not deemed to be legally competent.