Consent form signatures for OR

Editorial Team / Admin · Jan 12, 2012

Where I work, nurses routinely witness the surgical, anesthesia, and blood product consents for surgery. They are not getting consent as that is the surgeon's job. They are only witnessing that it was indeed the patient or his/her responsible party (parent, power of attorney) who signed the consent.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jan 12, 2012

sure, you're only witnessing the fact that that person signed that piece of paper. but that's not really all you should be considering.

never witness a consent if you didn't hear the surgeon's explanation to the patient. otherwise you have no idea whether the patient knows what's happening. it also gives you the opportunity to say to the patient, before the surgeon leaves the room, "did you understand what dr. smith just explained to you? what questions do you have?" (note, not, "do you have any questions?") you may also have occasion to say, "dr. smith, ms. jones asked me some questions earlier about xyz related to her surgery. could you please explain those to her now?"

that may be less of a legal issue but it is a huge nursing issue, as we are patient advocates and look out for their interests as part of our professional responsibility. forest and trees. do the right thing.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2012

If you were a witness to the consent, why wouldn't you be able to sign saying that you witnessed it?

I have signed many a consent form as a witness... mainly when we have to do consents over the phone. (Child in state custody, parent not available, etc.)

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jan 13, 2012

i don't think you're asking me that question, are you? i said you can sign to witness the consent; legally, all your signature testifies is that you witnessed that patient sign that piece of paper.

however, i said that as a nursing advocacy matter you shouldn't just sign if all you see is the signing, and not the consent-getting that precedes it and has to be done by the surgeon or anesthesiologist or whomever. i would also never just take the consent into the room and say, "your doctor wants me to get your signed consent for your surgery." that is wrong on many levels.

sorry if i was unclear.

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Jan 14, 2012

Where I work, nurses routinely witness the surgical, anesthesia, and blood product consents for surgery. They are not getting consent as that is the surgeon's job. They are only witnessing that it was indeed the patient or his/her responsible party (parent, power of attorney) who signed the consent.

Giving informed consent is part of the surgeon's job. I always ask the patient if they have any questions regarding the procedure and if they understood what the surgeon has explained to them. If possible, I give them education handouts from Lexicomp, but I still explain to them it is the surgeon's responsibility to discuss the procedure and risks/benefits in full detail. I have had consent forms generated for procedures that the patient didn't even know about, and in that case, you need to have the surgeon come in and talk to the patient.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jan 14, 2012

No GrnTea, I wasn't asking that to you. It was more of a rhetorical question meant for the OP.