Final answer:
It is true that nurses must obtain consent before using an interpreter when there's a language barrier with a client. Consent is essential for both ethical and legal reasons, and it ensures the patient is aware of the medical intervention. Minors require consent from a parent or guardian.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, a nurse must obtain consent before using an interpreter in the presence of a language barrier between the nurse and the client. Before any procedure, including the use of an interpreter, healthcare providers are required to obtain informed consent from the patient or their appropriate surrogate decision-maker.
Consent is a fundamental principle in medical ethics and health law, ensuring that the patient is aware of and agrees to the medical intervention and understands the implications. In the case of language barriers, using an interpreter is considered part of the medical intervention. It is important for the patient to agree to the presence of a third party during their medical consultation and for the privacy and confidentiality of their medical information to be maintained.
Furthermore, parents or legal guardians can provide consent on behalf of their children since children are not legally competent to provide such consent for themselves. However, it is considered good practice to include children in the discussion to the extent appropriate for their level of understanding.