The nurse prepares a client for scheduled surgery. Which actions are the nurse's legal responsibility with regard to informed consent? Select all that apply.

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Written consent is required for invasive procedures and surgery. Clients must be informed of and competent to understand information about the procedure, alternate treatments, and risks. They must also be informed that they have the right to refuse the procedure or surgery. The nurse's role in informed consent is to witness that the client signed the consent voluntarily and was competent at the time of signing (Options A and E). The nurse should ensure that the client received necessary information and has no remaining questions about the procedure. After obtaining the signature, the nurse should document in the client's medical record that the informed consent was given and the date/time of the signature (Option B). (Options C and D) The health care provider is responsible for explaining all aspects of the procedure, ensuring that the client has a correct understanding of the procedure and its potential risks, providing the names/qualifications of those who will be involved, describing available alternate treatments, and reinforcing that the client has the right to refuse the procedure. The health care provider should be contacted if the client does not have a correct understanding of the procedure. The nurse should not try to explain procedures as he/she could be held liable for giving incorrect/incomplete information. Educational objective: The nurse's role in informed consent is to witness a client's signature and ascertain that the client signed voluntarily, was competent to provide consent at the time of signature, received the necessary information, and has no further questions.

The Nurse Prepares a Client for Scheduled Surgery