The nurse witnessed a signed informed consent for an inguinal hernia repair surgery. During the procedure, the surgeon discovers a secondary ventral hernia that also requires repair. Which action should the nurse perform?

1. Add the secondary hernia to the consent form that the client signed before the procedure.
2. Call the client's medical power of attorney so that the surgeon can obtain consent for the additional procedure.
3. Document that an additional hernia was found and that it will require surgery at a later time.
4. Witness an additional consent after the client is awake and both procedures are complete.



Answer :

Final answer:

In medical practice, it is crucial to obtain informed consent for any additional procedures discovered during surgery to respect patient autonomy and ensure transparency.


Explanation:

The nurse should add the secondary hernia to the consent form that the client signed before the procedure. This action ensures that the patient is fully informed and consents specifically to the additional procedure discovered during surgery. It is essential to maintain transparency and respect the patient's autonomy.

Witnessing an additional consent after the client is awake and both procedures are complete could lead to ethical and legal concerns as the patient was not informed beforehand. Documenting the finding for a later surgery does not address the immediate need for consent for the current procedure.


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