Nursing Ethics in Practice: Issues for Perioperative Nursing

Abstract

Consent is a concept inherent in any nurse-patient relationship and provides nursing with both theoretical and practical challenges. Within the perioperative area written informed consent is obtained for surgical and anaesthetic interventions. Consent is not formally negotiated for the multitude of interventions undertaken to facilitate the most straightforward of surgical procedures. An explorative, qualitative research project was undertaken to explore the processes used by perioperative nurses for negotiating such consent. Data was collected from perioperative nurses working in an acute teaching hospital using ‘consent episodes’ as units of data focusing on daily tasks of perioperative patient care. Findings indicate there is a dominant discourse of implied consent in which perioperative nursing practice is located.

Surgical consent and the importance of a substitute decision-maker: A case study

“…Obtaining an informed consent from an elderly patient is a complex process and the treating medical officer needs to be aware of their obligations whilst ensuring that the primary focus is good practice and concern for the patient, not a fear of litigation 3 . There should be sufficient time for full details and explanation of the procedure to be made in plain language to the patient, along with details about alternative treatments, risks and benefits 20 .…”

“…The basic principles of informed consent have been well established over time and are underpinned by the acceptance that every adult with legal capacity has a right to decide what shall be done with their own body. Any health care provider who performs a procedure without the patient's consent commits assault and is liable for damages which can be claimed against them 3 . In obtaining an informed consent from a patient, the medical officer must disclose details of the proposed treatment, any alternative treatments available and the risks and benefits of all treatment options, thus allowing the patient to consider all the information given and make an informed decision 1 .…”

Giving midwives a voice – Qualitative perspectives of an ‘empowering decision‐making workshop’

“…The first and second author individually analysed the data by reading the field notes several times to become familiar with the text. By interrogating the data (Richardson‐Tench et al, 2018), themes and/or patterns within the midwives reflections were able to be identified. Emergent qualitative themes were cross‐referenced between the first and second authors until consensus was reached.…”

“…A qualitative approach was used to enable a deeper exploration (Richardson-Tench et al, 2018), and an understanding of what mattered, what was valued and why (Hammond, 2013) to the participants who attended one of the full-day workshops undertaken in Queensland: two in Brisbane, one in Townsville and one in Cairns.…”

Building Social Work Research Capacity in a Busy Metropolitan Hospital

“…It continually advances clinical practice standards and ensures that these standards are effective and evidence-based (Slade et al, 2018). Research has long been an important part of health and allied health (Richardson-Tench et al, 2018). In social work, there is no single understanding of what constitutes social work research.…”