Nursing Ethics
Autonomy and Informed Consent
Autonomy is the patient's right to self-determination, while informed consent is the legal and ethical process of ensuring patients understand medical interventions.
Core Principles
- Provider must disclose risks, benefits, and alternatives.
- Patient must be competent and not under duress.
- Nurse acts as a witness to the signature, not the information delivery.
- Emergency situations may invoke implied consent.
Nursing Responsibility
- Verify the patient understands the procedure.
- Notify the provider if the patient has unanswered questions.
- Ensure the signed consent form is in the chart before sedation.
- Respect the right to refuse treatment even if life-saving.
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