Questions: Before the administration of pre-operative medications, the nurse is preparing to witness the patient signing the operative consent form when the patient says, "I do not really understand what the doctor said." Which of the following actions is best for the nurse to take? Notify the operating room staff that the surgeon needs to give a more complete explanation of the procedure. Administer the prescribed preoperative antibiotics but withhold any ordered sedative medications. Provide an explanation of the planned surgical procedure to the client. Notify the surgeon that the informed-consent process is not complete. Submit

The answer is: Notify the surgeon that the informed-consent process is not complete.

Explanation for each option:

1. Notify the operating room staff that the surgeon needs to give a more complete explanation of the procedure.
   This option is not the best choice because it is not the operating room staff's responsibility to ensure the patient understands the procedure. The surgeon is the one who should provide a complete explanation to the patient.

2. Administer the prescribed preoperative antibiotics but withhold any ordered sedative medications.
   While withholding sedative medications is appropriate to ensure the patient is fully aware and can give informed consent, administering antibiotics does not address the issue of the patient's lack of understanding. The primary concern is ensuring the patient understands the procedure before any medications are given.

3. Provide an explanation of the planned surgical procedure to the client.
   Although the nurse can provide general information, it is the surgeon's responsibility to explain the specific details of the surgical procedure, including risks, benefits, and alternatives, to ensure informed consent.

4. Notify the surgeon that the informed-consent process is not complete.
   This is the best action because it directly addresses the issue. The surgeon must be informed that the patient does not fully understand the procedure, so they can provide the necessary information to complete the informed-consent process.