Ethics and Legal

informed consent

required for any nonemergency procedure, if they find something mid surgery that wasn’t discussed they will call guardian to provide consent

when does good samaritan law not apply

receive payment, doing something that a reasonable nurse would not do

when does advanced directive become of use

patient can’t comprehend or speeak, GCS less than 7

what to do if a nurse is impaired

do not confront them, go to charge nurse and document incident

what to do if patient is newly diagnosed with alzheimers

fill out advanced directive

when to wake up HCP

falls, deterioration, lab values, need clarification for prescription, leaves AMA, refuses key treatments