The nurse is preparing to witness the patient signing the operative consent form when the patient says,"I don't understand what the doctor said about the surgery." Which action should the nurse take next?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The surgeon is responsible for explaining the surgery to the patient. The nurse should wait until the surgeon has clarified the surgery before having the patient sign the consent form. The nurse should communicate directly with the surgeon about the consent form rather than asking other staff to pass on the message. It is not within the nurse's legal scope of practice to explain the surgical procedure. No preoperative medications should be given until the patient understands the surgical procedure and signs the consent form.

The Nurse Is Preparing to Witness the Patient Signing the Operative