Final answer:
To acquire consent for a surgery on a 15-year-old, a nurse should ensure that the grandparent accompanying the patient has legal authority to make medical decisions. The healthcare team needs to review the procedure and care plan with them to ensure that they are fully informed.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a 15-year-old patient presents to the Emergency Department (ED) with the need for an open reduction and internal fixation of fractures, obtaining informed consent is a crucial step before proceeding with the surgery. Since individuals under 18 years of age are considered minors, they generally are not legally able to provide consent for themselves; therefore, it's the responsibility of a parent or legal guardian to provide this consent on the minor's behalf.
In this situation, the nurse should ensure that the grandparent accompanying the patient has the legal authority to make medical decisions for the teenager. This may involve checking that the grandparent has the necessary legal documentation, such as a power of attorney for healthcare or guardianship papers. If the grandparent does not have the legal authority, the nurse would need to contact the parents or seek other legal avenues to obtain consent.
It is also important for the healthcare team, which includes the surgeon, nurse, and anesthesia professional, to review the key concerns for the recovery and care aloud with the patient and the grandparent, ensuring both understand the procedure, risks, benefits, and recovery plan. Addressing any questions they have will help ensure that the consent is fully informed.