A patient tells the nurse that he does not understand the surgical procedure the physician told him he needed. What should the nurse do to advocate for this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse should contact the physician and ask that the procedure be explained to the patient. It is within the physician’s scope of practice to explain the surgical procedure to the patient, and it is important for the patient to fully understand the procedure before giving consent. The nurse can also document that the patient expressed confusion about the procedure.

A Patient Tells the Nurse That He Does Not Understand