Okuzeka
Nursing vocabulary · Documentation

Informed consent

Meaning in nursing, with examples

/ɪnˌfɔːrmd kənˈsɛnt/nounCommon term

In nursing, informed consent means: A patient's agreement to a treatment or procedure, given freely after they have been told and have understood what it involves, its risks, benefits and alternatives.

In Turkish: aydınlatılmış onam, bilgilendirilmiş onam, onam

How it is used

Usually obtained and documented by the doctor doing the procedure, with a signed consent form for operations. Nurses check that the form is signed and that the patient still understands and agrees, and raise concerns if not. For everyday care, verbal consent is used: 'Is it OK if I take your blood pressure?'

Example sentences

  1. He doesn't seem to understand the operation, so I've asked the surgeon to go through informed consent with him again.

  2. Informed consent was obtained before the procedure, and the signed form is in her notes.

Common collocations

  • obtain informed consent
  • give informed consent
  • consent form
  • verbal consent
  • withdraw consent
  • confidentialityThe duty to keep information about patients private and to share it only with people who need it for their care or have a legal right to it.
  • interpreterA trained person who translates spoken conversation between a patient and staff who do not share a language, in person, by phone or by video.
  • next of kinThe person closest to a patient, usually a family member or partner, who is contacted first with news about them.
  • nursing notesThe written or electronic record in which nurses describe a patient's condition, the care given and any changes or events during each shift.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Documentation

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.