A nurse is preparing a patient for surgery later today. The provider has just left the room after obtaining informed consent. Which actions and observations reflect the nurse's correct role in the informed consent process? Select all that apply.
Select All That Apply
Choose your responses, then check the answer.
Explanation
The nurse's role in informed consent is to WITNESS the signature, verify understanding (teach-back), confirm capacity (alert, oriented, no new sedation, no duress), match the form to the schedule, and advocate when the patient has new questions or wishes to withdraw — even after signing. The PROVIDER (typically the surgeon) is responsible for actually OBTAINING consent — explaining the procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives. Choice 2 is wrong — the nurse cannot obtain consent in place of the provider; doing so is outside scope and creates legal liability.
The most common NCLEX informed-consent trap is "the patient says they don't fully understand after signing." The correct nursing action is always to STOP, notify the provider, and advocate for additional explanation — never to brush off the concern or proceed.
Adult patient scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The surgeon discussed risks, benefits, alternatives, and the patient signed the consent. The nurse is the witness on the form and now finalizes pre-op care.
Informed consent — Patient's voluntary agreement to a procedure after disclosure of nature, risks, benefits, alternatives, and right to refuse.
Nurse witness role — Witness verifies signature, capacity, and absence of duress; does not obtain consent for the procedure.
Withdrawal of consent — A patient may withdraw consent at any time before the procedure starts, even after signing; nurse must advocate.