Final answer:
The responsibilities of the nurse and client should be clarified early in the nurse-client relationship, particularly during the initial meetings in the orientation phase to ensure mutual understanding and effective collaboration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The clarification of responsibilities between a nurse and a client should occur early in the nurse-client relationship, ideally during the initial interactions or orientation phase of the relationship. At this point, the nurse should clearly outline the expectations for the care they will provide and discuss what is expected from the client in terms of participation and communication. This clarification helps in setting a foundation for mutual trust and collaboration, ensuring responsibilities such as those seen during surgical checklists, where the identification of procedure, instrument counts, and equipment checks are reviewed aloud, are understood and agreed upon. An example of how these responsibilities are implemented can be seen during the surgical team's checklists, where the nursing staff must confirm sterility and equipment availability. Knowing these responsibilities from the outset helps to avoid potential conflicts and ensures that outcomes are effectively met.