If a patient does not have complete understanding of the surgical procedure, what should the nurse do?

• A. Inform the surgeon.
• B. Explain the procedure again to the patient.
• C. Schedule another appointment.
• D. Tell the family to decide.

Answer: (A)

When a patient doesn’t fully understand a planned surgery, the essential step is to involve the physician who will perform the procedure. The nurse should inform the surgeon so they can review the consent discussion, answer questions, and ensure the patient’s understanding is complete before consent is given. The nurse can support by clarifying information within their scope and assessing comprehension, but the physician is responsible for obtaining informed consent. While arranging more time or education may be needed, that work should be coordinated with the surgeon. It wouldn’t be appropriate to have the family decide or to rely solely on the nurse to redo the explanation, since informed consent must reflect the patient’s informed, voluntary agreement.