A nurse is assisting with discharge planning for a client who has a sacral pressure injury and has a prescription for daily dressing changes. Which of the following resource referrals should the nurse anticipate from the provider for this client?

Choice A reason:A nurse explaining the details or steps of a surgical procedure goes beyond their professional scope. Providing detailed procedural explanations is the role of the surgeon or primary provider, as they possess the medical expertise and legal responsibility to ensure informed consent. When a nurse provides such explanations, it can cause misinformation, legal liability, and confusion for the patient, making this behavior unprofessional.
Choice B reason: This is incorrect. Witnessing a client consent for a surgical procedure is not unprofessional, but a professional responsibility of a nurse. A nurse should act as a witness to the client's signature on the consent form, and ensure that the consent process was conducted properly, ethically, and legally².
Choice C reason:A nurse confirming client competency to provide consent is also within professional practice. This involves assessing whether the client is alert, oriented, and able to make decisions. Ensuring competency helps protect the client’s rights and supports ethical nursing practice.
Choice D reason: This is incorrect. Verifying that a client voluntarily gave consent to a surgical procedure is not unprofessional, but a professional obligation of a nurse. A nurse should ensure that the client's consent was given freely, without any coercion, manipulation, or undue influence from others². A nurse should also respect the client's right to withdraw or change their consent at any time².

Choice A reason: Evidence based practice is the process that the nurse is planning to use. Evidence based practice is the integration of the best available evidence from research, clinical expertise, and patient preferences to make decisions and provide quality care for the client.
Choice B reason: Standardization is not the process that the nurse is planning to use. Standardization is the process of establishing and implementing uniform criteria, methods, or procedures for a specific activity or task. Standardization can help improve efficiency, consistency, and safety, but it does not necessarily involve research or scientific data.
Choice C reason: Benchmarking is not the process that the nurse is planning to use. Benchmarking is the process of comparing the performance, outcomes, or practices of one's own organization or unit with those of other organizations or units that are recognized as leaders or exemplars in the same field. Benchmarking can help identify gaps, strengths, and areas for improvement, but it does not necessarily involve research or scientific data.
Choice D reason: Root cause analysis is not the process that the nurse is planning to use. Root cause analysis is the process of identifying and analyzing the underlying factors or causes that contribute to an adverse event or error. Root cause analysis can help prevent recurrence, enhance safety, and promote learning, but it does not necessarily involve research or scientific data.