A nurse is assessing a client's understanding of a surgical procedure prior to witnessing their signature on the informed consent form. The nurse determines that the client does not understand what the procedure will involve. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Rationale: A. Contact the provider who will be performing the procedure: It is the provider’s legal and ethical responsibility to explain the procedure, including its purpose, risks, benefits, and alternatives. If the client does not understand, the nurse must contact the provider to clarify and ensure informed consent is valid. B. Instruct the client's spouse to sign the consent form: A spouse may only sign the form if the client is legally unable to do so. If the client is competent but lacks understanding, they should not sign until they receive adequate information from the provider. C. Read the consent form to the client using words the client will understand: While the nurse can clarify terms, reading or paraphrasing the consent form does not replace the provider’s obligation to explain the procedure fully and answer questions. D. Provide teaching about the surgical procedure for the client: Nurses may reinforce information, but only the provider can give the detailed explanation required for informed consent. Providing full procedural teaching falls outside the nurse’s scope for consent purposes.