A practical nurse (PN) is conducting a home health visit for a client with end-stage liver disease who is alert and oriented. A healthcare provider is present and has just completed a detailed discussion with the client regarding the risks, benefits, and alternatives of an in-home palliative paracentesis. The provider asks the PN to witness the client's signature on the informed consent document. At that moment, the client's adult child interrupts, presenting a legally valid Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare (DPOA-HC) document and stating, 'I am the designated proxy, so I am legally required to sign all consent forms.' Which action should the PN take?
- ARe-explain the potential complications of the paracentesis to the adult child to ensure the proxy is fully informed before they sign the document.
- BPerform a comprehensive cognitive competency assessment on the client to formally determine if the adult child's proxy status should be activated.
- Witness the client's signature on the consent document, as the advance directive only becomes active when the client loses decision-making capacity.Cevap
- DRequest that the provider repeat the procedural explanation to the adult child so the child can legally sign the consent form on the client's behalf.
Cevap
Witness the client's signature on the consent document, as the advance directive only becomes active when the client loses decision-making capacity.
Because the client is alert and oriented, they retain the full legal right to make their own healthcare decisions and sign the informed consent document. A Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare (DPOA-HC) is an advance directive that only becomes active if the client loses cognitive capacity. Furthermore, witnessing the signature of a competent client is safely within the scope of practice for the practical nurse.
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Activation of Advance Directives and the PN Role in Informed Consent