An inpatient nurse brings an informed consent form to a patient for an operation scheduled for tomorrow. The patient asks about possible complications from the operation. What response by the nurse is best?

Choice A reason: Reminding the patient of the surgeon’s teaching assumes prior education was sufficient, which may not address current concerns. Informed consent requires understanding risks, and unanswered questions indicate incomplete comprehension, necessitating further discussion with the surgeon to ensure ethical and legal consent. Choice B reason: Answering questions directly may exceed the nurse’s scope, as explaining surgical complications requires detailed knowledge typically provided by the surgeon. Providing inaccurate or incomplete information risks invalidating consent, as patients must fully understand risks before signing, making this an inappropriate response. Choice C reason: Having the patient sign the consent before addressing concerns violates informed consent principles, which require full understanding of risks. Signing without clarification risks coercion and legal issues, as the patient’s questions indicate uncertainty, necessitating surgeon involvement to ensure comprehension before consent. Choice D reason: Not having the patient sign and calling the surgeon ensures informed consent, as the patient’s questions about complications indicate incomplete understanding. The surgeon, as the procedure’s expert, must clarify risks to meet ethical and legal standards, ensuring the patient consents with full knowledge.