A patient in the emergency department needs an emergency operation. The patient refuses to consent and wants the nurse to call a respected elder in the community for consent. What action by the nurse is best?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In some cultures, decisions are made by men or community leaders. Although the patient may have the legal right to consent, if she comes from a culture in which gender and/or social roles do not permit decision making, she will likely refuse to consent. The best action is for the nurse to contact the elder and have him participate in the decision-making process per the patient's wishes. If the patient has given permission to share the information, doing so does not violate privacy laws. Admitting the patient without the operation does not help her medically.

A Patient in the Emergency Department Needs an Emergency Operation