5 legal responsabilities?

Kymsaa · Sep 26, 2000

Originally posted by lids:
I'm a nursing student writting a surgical follow though paper and i'm asked what the 5 legal responsibilities of the nurse in regards to the operative consent for surgery? help i do not know

I think what they may be requireing, and I can only speak for New Zealand.

1. is the consent signed by both doctor and patient ( or parent/guardian if pt unable to sign or too young, and perhaps a witness?

2. Has the patient been fully informed of risks and understands it?

3. Does the consent say explicitly what the operation is going to be and legible?

4. Does the patient understand what the surgeon is going to do and how?

5. Is the patients correct name, date of birth, hospital number etc correct on the consent form.I.e, this consent is definitly for that patient?

6. In n.Z patients must consent to a blood transfusion prior to leaving the ward, if the surgeons think it may be necessary while in theate. and also to anaesthesia. Our patients must be marked by a arrow towards the site or a wrist band. good luck, by the way, I had to think about it also.

Kymsaa · Sep 26, 2000

Originally posted by Kymsaa:
I think what they may be requireing, and I can only speak for New Zealand.
1. is the consent signed by both doctor and patient ( or parent/guardian/ next of kin if pt unable to sign or too young, and perhaps a witness?
2. Has the patient been fully informed of risks and understands it?
3. Does the consent say explicitly what the operation is going to be and legible?
4. Does the patient understand what the surgeon is going to do and how?
5. Is the patients correct name, date of birth, hospital number etc correct on the consent form.I.e, this consent is definitly for that patient?
6. In n.Z patients must consent to a blood transfusion prior to leaving the ward, if the surgeons think it may be necessary while in theate. and also to anaesthesia. Our patients must be marked by a arrow towards the site or a wrist band. good luck, by the way, I had to think about it also.
Ps. Also points consider, is the patient of compes mentus to sign the consent, eg a 72 year old who has alzheimers, after all u are the patients advocate or does the patient have a laguage barrier, for example english as a second languge and may need an intepretor to be able to have full informed consent. Just an after thought. Remember, we are the patients adocate. If the person is not fully informed it is our responsibilty to get the doctor back. Remember to inform patients what to expect when they come back from theatre, in your pre op teachings. K.