A nurse is serving on a committee that is considering the creation of a policy that will allow nurses to insert peripherally inserted central catheters in the intensive care unit. Which of the following resources should the nurse consult in planning for this policy?

The correct answer is choice B: "This is a procedure that does not require written informed consent."

Choice B rationale: Informed consent is typically required for invasive procedures, surgery, or treatments that carry significant risks. While inserting an indwelling urinary catheter is considered an invasive procedure, it is generally not a procedure that requires written informed consent. Nurses often have standing orders or standardized procedures in place for catheterization, and consent is usually implied or obtained verbally.

Choice A rationale: Although providers prescribe procedures, consent is still necessary in many cases. However, as mentioned above, written informed consent is not typically required for urinary catheter insertion due to its routine nature in medical care.

Choice C rationale: Discussing the issue with the charge nurse is unnecessary since written informed consent is not generally required for this procedure. The nurse should instead focus on educating the family about standard hospital practices.

Choice D rationale: Asking the family to sign the informed consent form at this point is not appropriate, as it implies that the procedure should not have been performed without written consent. Additionally, urinary catheterization does not typically require written informed consent, so asking them to sign a form could create confusion or unnecessary concern.

Choice A rationale:

Showing the AP how to remove an indwelling urinary catheter may not provide sufficient evidence of their competency to perform the task safely and effectively. This approach assumes that observation alone is enough to determine competence, which is not necessarily the case. It's important to have a more structured assessment of the AP's skills.

Choice B rationale:

Reviewing the AP's skill competency checklist is the most appropriate action to ensure the AP is qualified to remove the indwelling urinary catheter. Competency checklists outline specific skills and steps required for a task, and they serve as a standardized way to assess the AP's capabilities. This process ensures that the AP has received proper training and has demonstrated competence before performing the procedure independently.

Choice C rationale:

Simply asking the AP if they know how to remove an indwelling urinary catheter is not a comprehensive method for verifying their qualifications. Self-assessment can be unreliable and may not accurately reflect the AP's actual skill level. Relying solely on self-reporting could compromise patient safety and quality of care.

Choice D rationale:

Pairing the newly hired AP with an experienced AP might provide some guidance, but it doesn't systematically assess the individual's competence. The level of experience of the experienced AP may vary, and their ability to teach or evaluate the new AP's skills may not be standardized.