Anesthesia consent

[NewORnurse12]

I had a case where there was supposed to be no anesthesia(we were just injecting prp). the patient decided she wanted to be sedated for the procedure and the pre op nurse had the anesthesia consent signed and she witnessed it. at the time when I was checking consents I thought I saw the anesthesia providers signature. the crna came in and talked to her about her anesthesia, we drew her blood, and we went back to the or and did the procedure, not second guessing myself about the consent. now a day later, I am second guessing myself about the anesthesia providers signature. what would happen if there wasn't a signature? would it be as big of a deal as if I had brought the patient back without her signature?

[offlabel]

The patient signed the consent (not that that would probably make a difference in the end, either) and the CRNA on the record was the one that got the consent and gave the sedation if there was a question could clarify. A non-issue, IMO.

But that doesn't mean a business casual nurse with a clip board and a whistle couldn't harass you about it.

[NewORnurse12]

Yes I agree that the crna would be able to answer questions, but wasn't sure since the anesthesiologist never signed the consent as the provider.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

"the pre op nurse had the anesthesia consent signed and she witnessed it." Did the patient actually give informed consent, where she was able to hear about the plan and the potential risks as well as had the opportunity to ask questions? Or did the preop nurse simply have the patient sign the consent? Because that's going to be a big difference.

In your second post you mention a CRNA and an anesthesiologist who never signed the consent as the provider. What is your facility policy? My facility's policy requires that the anesthesiologist who is supervising that room must obtain consent- the CRNA is not permitted to be the one to obtain consent. Again, another detail that can influence things.

Did the patient raise concerns after the procedure? Unless she did, it is unlikely that this will have any effect unless the above mentioned clipboard nurse gets involved. But please, in the future, be sure to check your consents prior to moving into the OR, especially if there are changes made to the scheduled plan.

[offlabel]

Yes I agree that the crna would be able to answer questions, but wasn't sure since the anesthesiologist never signed the consent as the provider.

When the patient signs the consent, the implication is that it is informed consent which means the questions, if any, are answered. Again, As long as the anesthesia provider documented on the record, there is no liability issue that couldn't exist with a completed form.

But a liability (real) issue is very different from a hospital (fake) issue.

But if it bothers you that much, just grab the form from medical records and have the provider sign it. Problem solved.