My question is with regard to having patients signing consents prior to procedures. It used to be, back in the day, all we had to think about were surgical procedures. Now (and for good reason) we are having patients sign prior to receiving blood transfusions. However, there are so many new procedures and it seems I am coming across some that do and some that don't require written consent. I would think anything invasive or anything requiring sedation/analgesia requires written consent; is that the best way to know? Also, so many times, I am told to hurry and get the patient to sign a consent BEFORE the surgeon has discussed the procedure, let alone the risks and benefits, to the patient. We are told, "Oh, that will be gone over in the holding area or just before surgery". Needless to say, I am not comfortable with this.
Also, our ICU unit has no set written policies (that I can find) regarding which procedures require patients to be NPO prior to procedures and for how many hours, which procedures allow for a clear liquid breakfast, etc. Anybody out there well versed on this? I sure would appreciate any input.
