A registered nurse in the United States notices that a competent adult patient has signed a procedure consent form while appearing intoxicated and unable to explain the procedure. What should the nurse do?

Correct answer: B. Notify the provider and delay the procedure until capacity is reassessed

  • A. Proceed because the signed form is legally sufficient
  • B. Notify the provider and delay the procedure until capacity is reassessed
  • C. Ask the patient's friend to confirm the consent
  • D. Witness the signature again after the patient rests briefly

Explanation

Valid consent requires decision-making capacity and adequate understanding at the time of consent. The nurse should notify the provider and delay the procedure for reassessment rather than relying on a signature obtained when capacity is impaired.

Submitted by a TestUstad contributor and published by the TestUstad editorial teamLast updated
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About US Legal and Ethical Nursing Practice

US nursing law and ethics include state nurse practice acts, scope of practice, standards of care, negligence, malpractice, documentation, confidentiality under HIPAA and informed consent. Ethical reasoning applies autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice and fidelity to conflicts such as refusal of treatment, advance directives, privacy breaches and mandatory reporting, which are not the same as legal liability.

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