Author Question: An unconscious client with a head injury needs surgery to live. His wife only speaks French, and the ... (Read 109 times)

student77 · **on:** Jul 23, 2018

An unconscious client with a head injury needs surgery to live. His wife only speaks French, and the health care providers are having a difficult time explaining his condition. Which of the following is the most correct answer regarding this situation?

1. An institutional review board needs to be contacted to give their emergency ad-vice on the situation.
2. The health care team should continue with the surgery after providing information in the best manner possible.
3. A friend of the family could act as an interpreter, but the explanation could not provide details of the client's accident, because of confidentiality laws.
4. Two licensed health care personnel should witness and sign the preoperative con-sent indicating they heard an explanation of the procedure given in English.

Question 2

What standard of care applies to the student nurse's conduct when providing care normally per-formed by a registered nurse (RN)?

1. The same standard of care as an RN
2. A standard of care of an unlicensed person
3. No special standard of care because her faculty member is responsible for her conduct
4. A standard similar to but not the same as the staff nurse with whom she is as-signed to work

poopface · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 23, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: 2
In emergency situations, if it is impossible to obtain consent from the client or an authorized per-son, the procedure required to benefit the client or save a life may be undertaken without liability for failure to obtain consent. In such cases, the law assumes that the client would wish to be treated. In an emergency, it is not necessary to contact the institutional review board. In doing so, it would take up valuable time. A family member or acquaintance that is able to speak a cli-ent's language should not be used to interpret health information. An official interpreter must be available to explain the terms of consent (except in an emergency situation). Telephone consents usually require two witnesses. This is not the case in this situation.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: 1
Student nurses are expected to perform as professional nurses (i.e., as an RN would in providing safe client care). Students are not working in the same capacity as an unlicensed person, and therefore are not compared to the standard of an unlicensed person. No special standard of care because her faculty member is responsible for her conduct is not a true statement. Staff nurses may serve as preceptors, but that does not excuse the student from performing at the level of an RN. If a client is harmed as a direct result of a nursing student's actions or lack of action, the lia-bility for the incorrect action is generally shared by the student, instructor, hospital or health care facility, and university or educational institution.