Editing Management of Care – RN Practice Questions (section)

==Question 4==
A client scheduled for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy has an unsigned consent form on the chart. When the registered nurse enters the room, the client says, "So they are taking out part of my stomach, right?" Which action should the nurse take?
# Explain that the gallbladder, not the stomach, will be removed, and then witness the signature.
# Witness the signature and document the client's statement in the record.
# Notify the surgeon that the client does not understand the planned procedure.
# Ask a family member to explain the surgery to the client.

'''Answer:''' 3. Notify the surgeon that the client does not understand the planned procedure.

''Rationale:'' The provider performing the procedure is legally responsible for disclosing its nature, risks, benefits, and alternatives. The nurse's role is to witness the signature, confirm that consent is voluntary, and verify that the client understands. When understanding is absent, the nurse stops the process and notifies the provider to complete the disclosure. Option 1 has the nurse assume the provider's disclosure duty. Option 2 obtains a signature the nurse already knows is uninformed. Option 4 delegates disclosure to someone with no clinical or legal standing to give it.