A nurse has prepared a client for an elective surgical procedure. After administering a pre-op sedative, the nurse notices the consent form was not signed. She asks the client to sign it before going to surgery. Is this the appropriate action? If not, why?
A)No, this is not appropriate or necessary because the client willingly came to the facility for an elective procedure, which implies consent.
B)No, this is not appropriate because the client has received a mind-altering medication (sedative) and is unable to give informed consent.
C)Yes, the consent must be signed before the procedure can begin.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A client who has received a sedative is not alert and not able to give informed consent. Invasive procedures require informed consent. Since this was an elective procedure and not a life-threatening circumstance, the best action would be to notify the physician and reschedule the procedure. Implied consent is not legally defensible for invasive procedures.

A Nurse Has Prepared a Client for an Elective Surgical