getting consents for epidurals

[seanymph]

I have a question regarding who gets the consents signed for epidurals? I am a new traveler, but have worked in a number of different hospitals. All the other facilities I have worked at the anethesia person was required to get their consent signed for the epidural after talking with the patient about the procedure and the possible complications. This is what I call "informed consent". Am I wrong? The facility I am at now the anesthesia personnel expect the consent to be signed before the enter they room and the nursing personnel do it for them. I have refused and have received frosty response from nursing staff and anesthesia staff alike. What do others do? Thank you for input.

[RMH]

We always have the consent and anesthesia questionaire signed prior to the CRNA arriving. We then give him any pertinent info and he will always ask the patient if she has any questions before starting. It's just like have and surgical consent form signed. But if the patient has any misgivings at all then we wait until after he has talked to her.

That rarely happens

[seanymph]

I have the anesthesia questionare done and the consent ready for them, but as far as I am concerned it is their job to talk to the patient about the procedure and possible complications then get the consent signed.

[elleRN]

we are so laxed on obtaining consent for epidural. the anesthesiologist always explains the procedure and takes questions, but only a few of them get a consent signed, and some don't even do it all the time. it is not the nurse's responsibility to get the consent. some patients never consent for anything. some doctors require consent for a nsvd which they usually obtain a signature for after the birth. consents are always done for c sections.

[SmilingBluEyes]

This consent is obtained on EVERY LABOR PATIENT WE GET on admission, in the case an emergent csection were needed. We explain risks/benefits (and they are spelled out on the form) and then they sign...consenting for lady partsl/csection delivery and "necessary anethesia" . Prior to ANY anesthesia being started, the MDA comes in and explains IN DETAIL EXACTLY what he/she will do, what to expect, side-effects and benefits/risks. The patients are WELL informed prior to receiving ANY anesthesia what they are consenting to.

[OBNurseShelley]

blue-eyes i like that way best.....that way everything is covered, no need to rush around in an emergency trying to get a damn consent signed. THe place im at now, only have consents for c/s, and the nurse gets it signed. I try to have the doc sign it too before hand but dont always........tho i heard this was a jchao violation. (not having it signed prior to starting the procedure)

[imenid37]

we ALWAYS get the epidural consent signed w/ physician after pt. has been evaluated and instructed. we have one doc that we have to slip it in or he'll forget. truthfully, this is not like cutting a fingernail. it's a big time procedure w/ lots of risk. true-we do many, many of them and most go very well, but there's always the chance of an adverse outcome.

[fourbirds4me]

our vag consent says

"Routine lady partsl delivery with possible episiotomy and repair and/or emergency c-section" it also contains a clause that says "and whatever necessary anesthesia"

[finallyRN]

We get consent for lady partsl deliveries. Anesthesia is supposed to get consent for epidurals. We are not allowed to get consent for a c-section untill the decision is made by the MD. Our MD's don't even want the consent for c-section, signed or not, in the chart until a decision is made. Their reasoning is- If the patient ends up delivering lady partslly and something is wrong with the baby and someone looks in the chart and finds the c-section consent they can ask "Why wasn't the section done?" I agree with them on that.