Final answer:
Nurses must obtain explicit consent when assessing a person's capacity to make decisions about treatment. Informed consent allows patients to understand and voluntarily participate in the assessment process.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nurses must obtain explicit consent when assessing a person's capacity to make decisions about treatment. This is an important ethical principle known as informed consent. Informed consent means that the patient understands the nature of the assessment, its purpose, and the potential risks and benefits, and voluntarily agrees to participate. By obtaining explicit consent, nurses respect the autonomy and rights of the patient to make decisions about their own healthcare.