Final answer:
The consent process for an 88-year-old woman undergoing surgery involves informed consent, where the patient must be fully informed about the risks and benefits and provide voluntary agreement to proceed. A nurse confirms patient identity, procedure details, and consent during the sign in phase before surgery.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of an 88-year-old woman posted for surgery, the consent process that needs to be followed by a nurse ties into the broader concept of informed consent in medical procedures. Prior to surgery, several steps are taken to ensure that all the necessary information has been communicated and confirmed with both the patient and the medical team. This includes verifying the patient's identity, the surgical site and procedure, and ensuring that the patient has given informed consent.
During the sign in phase, the nurse together with anesthesia professionals must confirm the identity of the patient, the procedure to be performed, and that the patient has given consent. As for the consent itself, it implies that the patient has been fully informed of the risks and benefits of the surgery, understands the critical events that may occur during the operation, as outlined by the surgical team, and agrees to proceed.
In cases where an individual may not be able to give consent, such as minors or those not competent to do so, consent must be obtained from a parent, legal guardian, or judge. It is paramount in the medical field to respect the autonomy of patients through the informed consent process, ensuring they have the capacity to make the decision, and that they are doing so voluntarily without coercion.
Complete Question:
An 88-year-old woman is posted for surgery. Which of the following consent processes needs to be followed by a nurse in this case?
A. Family members should sign the consent
B. Provide adequate time for the patient to process the information and sign
C. Ask the patient to sign immediately
D. Ask her to go through the written instructions and sign immediately
E. Explain to her that she is too old to sign the consent