Informed consent, Dr or nurse gets the pt to sign?

[Nursebetty2007]

I was trying to find the answer and no luck, I know if the patient it having surgery, the DR has to explain the procedure and answer all questions but can I nurse obtain informed consent?

[dreeea]

From what I have learned through School it is the Physicians Responsibility to explain the procedure and get it signed & the nurse is the witness. But in the Real world I've noticed the Physician Explains the procedure & the nurse is responsible for obtaining the signature, not sure if that's ethical or not ...

[Nursebetty2007]

Thanks! I was just wondering incase I happened to see it on the NCLEX

[lloi]

I was trying to find the answer and no luck I know if the patient it having surgery, the DR has to explain the procedure and answer all questions but can I nurse obtain informed consent?[/quote']

responsibility of the MD to get informed consent because he is the one giving explanations of the procedure.

[lloi]

I was trying to find the answer and no luck I know if the patient it having surgery, the DR has to explain the procedure and answer all questions but can I nurse obtain informed consent?[/quote']

the RN may obtain the informed consent but the accountability is still on the part of the MD. the RN is just giving favor on behalf of the MD. RN is just a witness

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

There is a better answer here if you understand the nurse's responsibility vs the physician's responsibility.

It is the physician's responsibility to explain the reason for the surgery, the risks, the possible complications, and the expected result; to fail to do this is to deprive the patient/designee the opportunity to make an informed choice, which is ethically unacceptable.

The consent for surgery is signed by the patient/legally designated person.

The wise nurse witnesses the conversation to be sure the patient is understanding and then witnesses the signature after asking the patient/designee if everything the physician has explained makes sense. If there is any hesitation, the nurse's obligation is to call the physician back to clarify until the patient/designee understands and says so. This is the nurse's obligation because we are specifically charged with patient safety and education while recognizing the patient's autonomy and right to make choices regarding treatment. If the patient/designee hasn't understood the physician's explanation, s/he cannot make informed consent; this violates his rights...which we are bound to protect.

[Philly_LPN_Girl, LPN]

It is the physician's responsibility to explain the procedures and obtain a signature of informed consent and the nurse's responsibility to witness it being signed.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

It is the physician's responsibility to explain the procedures and obtain a signature of informed consent and the nurse's responsibility to witness it being signed.

....and the nurse's responsibility to see that the patient understood what s/he was being asked to sign for. That's critically important and will be asked in the context of your ethical duty to protect.