The Role of the Nurse as a Patient Advocate: Informed Consent
Choose a patient-care situation in which the RN should intervene and advocate for the patient. An example of such a situation might be when a patient has not been given complete informed consent.
Include the following in your paper:
Describe the clinical situation concisely and descriptively. It can be an actual situation or a hypothetical one.
Apply the Bioethical Decision Making Model to the specific clinical ethical situation that you choose. Address each section of the model in your paper.
Conclude with a discussion of nursing advocacy in the clinical setting and the nurse’s role as a patient advocate.
The Role of the Nurse as a Patient Advocate: Informed Consent
Clinical Situation
Imagine a patient, Mr. Smith, who is scheduled for a surgical procedure. The surgeon briefly explains the procedure to Mr. Smith, but fails to provide him with all the necessary information regarding the risks, benefits, and alternatives. Mr. Smith is not fully aware of the potential complications or alternative treatment options available to him. As a result, he is unable to make an informed decision about his care.
Bioethical Decision Making Model
Identify the Problem: The problem in this situation is the lack of complete informed consent provided to Mr. Smith. He has not been adequately informed about the procedure, including its potential risks, benefits, and alternatives.
Gather Information: The nurse should gather all relevant information related to the surgical procedure in question. This includes understanding the risks, benefits, and possible alternatives available to Mr. Smith.
Identify Ethical Principles: In this case, the ethical principle of autonomy is at stake. Autonomy refers to an individual’s right to make decisions about their own healthcare based on informed consent. By not providing complete information, the surgeon is compromising Mr. Smith’s autonomy.
Explore Alternatives: The nurse should explore alternatives to address the lack of informed consent in this situation. This may involve discussing the situation with the surgeon, seeking a second opinion, or involving a healthcare ethics committee.
Choose and Implement a Plan: The nurse should advocate for Mr. Smith’s right to receive complete and accurate information about his surgical procedure. This involves speaking up on behalf of the patient and communicating with the surgeon and other healthcare professionals to ensure that Mr. Smith receives the necessary information to make an informed decision.
Evaluate Outcomes: After advocating for complete informed consent, the nurse should assess whether Mr. Smith has received all the necessary information and if he is now able to make an informed decision about his care. The nurse should also evaluate the overall outcome of their advocacy efforts and whether the patient’s rights were protected.
Nursing Advocacy and the Nurse’s Role as a Patient Advocate
Nursing advocacy plays a crucial role in patient care, particularly in situations where patients are not given complete informed consent, as described in the clinical situation above. As patient advocates, nurses have a responsibility to ensure that patients are fully informed about their healthcare decisions.
Nurses act as intermediaries between patients and other healthcare professionals, ensuring that patients have access to accurate information and are able to make informed choices based on their values and preferences. In situations where complete informed consent is lacking, nurses must step in and advocate for the patient’s right to be fully informed.
Advocacy involves actively listening to patients, facilitating communication between patients and healthcare providers, and ensuring that patients’ voices are heard and respected. Nurses must also educate patients about their rights and empower them to actively participate in their own care.
In conclusion, nursing advocacy is essential in situations where patients are not given complete informed consent. By applying the Bioethical Decision Making Model, nurses can identify ethical issues, gather necessary information, explore alternatives, choose a plan of action, and evaluate outcomes. Through their role as patient advocates, nurses play an integral part in ensuring that patients receive the information they need to make informed decisions about their healthcare.