A registered nurse in a respiratory step-down unit is caring for a client scheduled for a bronchoscopy with biopsy. The healthcare provider has already obtained the client's signature on the informed consent document. As the nurse brings the prescribed preoperative midazolam to the bedside, the client states, 'I have decided I do not want anyone putting a tube into my lungs. Cancel the test.' Arrange the following nursing actions in the correct priority order from first to last.
- 1Withhold the prescribed preoperative sedative medication.
- 2Explore the client's concerns and reasons for refusing the procedure.
- 3Contact the pulmonologist to report the client's revocation of consent.
- 4Document the client's statement and all subsequent actions in the medical record.
Answer
The correct order is to first withhold the sedative, then explore the client's concerns, followed by contacting the provider, and finally documenting the event in the medical record.
When a client revokes consent, the nurse's immediate priority is to stop any procedural interventions, such as administering preoperative sedation. Continuing to sedate the client would constitute battery. After halting the intervention, the nurse assesses the client's reasoning to provide holistic care and advocacy. Next, the nurse must communicate the client's decision to the provider, as the provider is responsible for discussing the medical consequences of the refusal. Finally, the nurse documents the entire event to maintain a legal record of the client's revocation and the appropriate nursing actions taken.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Client's Right to Revoke Informed Consent
Estimated Time:1m 30s