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Difficulty: EasyLegal and Ethical Practice

A practical nurse (PN) is preparing an alert and oriented client for a scheduled elective surgery. The surgeon has already discussed the procedure, risks, and benefits with the client. Which action represents the PN's legal responsibility regarding the informed consent document?

  1. Witnessing the client's voluntary signature on the consent formAnswer
  2. B
    Explaining the potential surgical risks and complications to ensure the client understands the procedure
  3. C
    Conducting the initial comprehensive nursing assessment to determine surgical readiness
  4. D
    Discussing the surgical details with the client's family members without the client's explicit permission

Answer

The correct action is witnessing the client's voluntary signature on the consent form.
The legal role of the nurse during the informed consent process is to act as a witness. This involves confirming that the client is competent, verifying their identity, and witnessing their voluntary signature on the consent form.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary role of the practical nurse in the informed consent process.
The nurse's role is to act as a witness to the signature.
The healthcare provider who will perform the procedure is legally responsible for explaining the risks, benefits, and alternatives.
2
Evaluate each option against the PN scope of practice and legal regulations.
Only witnessing the signature falls within the appropriate legal and ethical boundaries for the PN.
Explaining risks is the provider's job, initial comprehensive assessments belong to the RN, and unauthorized sharing of information violates confidentiality laws.

Key Concept

The nurse's role in informed consent is to witness the client's voluntary signature, not to explain the procedure or its risks.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Legal and Ethical Practice

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