The patient who is unable to consent to nursing care

Int J Nurs Stud. 2003 Sep;40(7):697-705. doi: 10.1016/s0020-7489(02)00113-x.

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to examine the way in which nurses manage patients who are unable to consent to nursing care procedures. This paper reports on a qualitative study using focus groups and critical incidents collected through in-depth interviews to explore the way in which nurses obtain consent prior to nursing care procedures. The finding indicate that nurses are uneasy about administering care to a patient who cannot consent. When complicating factors are present this unease is exacerbated and sometimes the appropriate delivery of care is withheld.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anecdotes as Topic
  • Clinical Nursing Research / ethics
  • Ethics, Nursing*
  • Focus Groups
  • Humans
  • Nurse's Role / psychology*
  • Nurse-Patient Relations / ethics*
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / psychology
  • Personal Autonomy*