A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for an invasive procedure that requires consent. When the nurse arrives at the bedside to obtain the client's signature they find that the client is asleep after receiving a sedative. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Send the client for the test with the unsigned form.
Wake the client and ask them to sign the form.
Obtain consent from a family member.
Inform the charge nurse.
The Correct Answer is D
A) Send the client for the test with the unsigned form:
This option is not appropriate because performing an invasive procedure without obtaining informed consent from the client violates ethical and legal principles. Proceeding without proper consent could lead to legal and ethical repercussions, and it is not considered a safe or acceptable practice.
B) Wake the client and ask them to sign the form:
Waking the client who has received a sedative to obtain their signature on the consent form is not advisable. The client may still be under the influence of the sedative, which could impair their ability to understand the information provided and make an informed decision. Additionally, obtaining consent in this manner may not be legally valid and could compromise the client's autonomy and rights.
C) Obtain consent from a family member:
While obtaining consent from a family member might seem like a reasonable option, it is not appropriate in this scenario without clear documentation of the client's inability to provide consent. Consent for medical procedures should ideally be obtained directly from the competent adult client unless they are incapacitated or unable to make decisions. In this case, the client is asleep due to the sedative, but there is no indication that they are incapable of providing consent. Therefore, relying on a family member's consent without attempting to obtain it from the client first may not be ethically or legally justified.
D) Inform the charge nurse:
This is the most appropriate action to take initially. Informing the charge nurse allows for consultation and guidance on how to proceed in this situation. The charge nurse may advise on the appropriate steps to follow, such as contacting the provider or waiting for the client to regain consciousness to obtain informed consent. It ensures that the situation is addressed promptly and in accordance with institutional policies and ethical standards.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A) Includes quotes from the client:
Including direct quotes from the client in documentation provides accurate information about the client's statements or expressions. This practice enhances the clarity and validity of the documentation, as it captures the client's own words, which may be important for conveying their thoughts, feelings, or symptoms.
B) Remains logged in to the charting system throughout the shift:
Remaining logged in to the charting system throughout the shift poses a security risk and violates principles of confidentiality. Nurses should log out of the system when not actively using it to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive patient information.
C) Makes reference in the nurse's notes of completing an incident report:
While documenting the completion of an incident report is important for communication and quality improvement purposes, referencing it directly in the nurse's notes may not be appropriate. Incident reports are typically separate documents used for reporting adverse events or incidents, and their contents may not be part of the client's medical record.
D) Documents that the provider wrote an inaccurate prescription:
Documenting that the provider wrote an inaccurate prescription is not within the scope of a nurse's documentation responsibilities. If a nurse identifies an inaccurate prescription, the appropriate action is to clarify the prescription with the provider through established communication channels rather than documenting the error in the client's chart.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A) Ask the provider to give consent for the transfusion:
The provider cannot override the decision made by the client's designated healthcare proxy. Even if the provider were to give consent for the transfusion, it would not be ethically or legally appropriate to proceed with the treatment against the expressed wishes of the client's healthcare proxy.
B) Discuss taking guardianship of the client with the facility administration:
Seeking guardianship of the client would be an extreme measure and may not be necessary or appropriate in this situation. Guardianship is typically pursued when there are concerns about an individual's capacity to make decisions for themselves and when there is no designated healthcare proxy available to make decisions on their behalf. In this case, the client has a designated healthcare proxy, and it is more appropriate to respect the daughter's decision as the client's authorized representative.
C) Respect the daughter's decision to refuse the transfusion:
In situations where a client has designated a durable power of attorney for healthcare, the individual designated as the healthcare proxy has the legal authority to make healthcare decisions on behalf of the client, including the refusal of treatment. In this case, the daughter, acting as the client's healthcare proxy, has refused the blood transfusion for her mother. It is important for the nurse to respect and honor the daughter's decision, as it aligns with the client's previously documented wishes.
D) Encourage the daughter to let her mother have the transfusion:
While it is understandable that the nurse may want to advocate for the client's well-being, in this situation, the daughter's decision as the client's healthcare proxy must be respected. Encouraging the daughter to change her decision would not be appropriate if it goes against her understanding of what is in her mother's best interests and the client's previously documented wishes.
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