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Informed Consent In Nursing

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Informed Consent In Nursing
Nurses are faced with many legal and ethical challenges on a daily basis while caring for their patients. The nursing profession has its own set of standards in respect to the profession’s ethical values and a nurse’s commitment to perform one’s job duties in unity with these values. These standards are listed in the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics with Interpretive Statements (ANA, 2016). One dilemma nurses often face is the process of informed consent and the complexities involved, such as the idea of self-determination and whether or not a person is competent to make personal decisions regarding their health care treatment. Nurses are considered advocates for their patients, and while being so must help patients understand …show more content…
Some health care providers do not want to accept a patient’s rejection for further treatment because the physician believes the treatment would be beneficial to the patient. This could lead to the provider pressuring the patient, which may hinder the patient’s decision-making process. In the nursing profession, patients do have the ethical right to informed consent and this assertion is supported by the ANA’s Code of Ethics Provision …show more content…
A patient’s right to informed consent is an ethical responsibility of the health care provider along with the help of nurses to determine if a person is of sound mind and able to make decisions regarding their care. The nurse is also responsible for providing the necessary support to the patient and making sure the patient comprehends the information presented and he or she understands the consequences of his or her decisions (ANA, 2016). A patient’s right to informed consent is beneficial because it helps the patient feel included in the decision-making process concerning their health. Self-determination is important to people, especially to those who are dedicated to religious or cultural beliefs that may affect their decisions regarding medical

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