Consent In Nursing

This essay will explore the reflective discussion on the NUR4021 module, demonstrating my understanding of the professional, ethical and legal values that impact on nursing in a diverse society. According to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC 2015) reflection enables you to make sense of a situation and understand how it has affected you. The NMC (2015) shows the importance of reflection, by requiring nurses to complete a reflective discussion as part of the revalidation. When Nurses reflect It helps them think, plan and deliver high quality and safe care to patients. (RCN 2018).

Gillian Bolton (2010 PG13) defines reflection “as learning and developing through examining what we think happened on any one occasion, and how we think others

For me the most significant aspect was how it allows the patient to have power and control over their rights. I felt fascinated on how consent changes in all four fields of nursing and the different legislation used to protect patients and nurses.

NMC Code of Conduct (NMC 2015) sets the professional standard and behaviour nurses must work to by understanding the legal, professional and ethical framework for caring. Code requires that nurses gain consent from a patient before treatment and respect their right to accept or refuse (Wheeler 2012).

Consent is defined as permission for something to happen (Oxford English Dictionary 2018). In terms of healthcare, it’s a legal and ethical principle that consent is gained before beginning examination, commencing treatment or delivering care (RCN 2017). This principle reflects the individual’s rights of what happens to them and the quality of support and care they receive, this is essential to good practice (RCN 2017)

Consent can be in a written form or verbally and must be valid. Valid consent must be voluntary, informed, cover the act to be performed and be from a legally competent source (Carvalho

Providing the child can show maturity and intelligence to understand the implications of what was consented, this process is called Gillick competence. (Griffith 2014)

The Children Act 1989 allows parents to have parental responsibility for their children, which includes right to consent to treatment. Parental responsibility is defined as responsibility, rights, duties and power by law, a parent of a child has in relation to the child (Griffith 2014). According to Lord Fraser’s guidelines the parents have the right to give consent, however their rights must be in the best interest of the child (Diamond 2009). If the parent refuses to give consent for treatment, it will need to be referred to the court for a decision (Griffith 2014).

Adult Nurses work with patients over 18, they can work in community and hospital settings such as patient’s homes, health centres or nursing homes (RCN 2018). In relation to a consent, no adult can give consent on behalf of another adult, if that adult has mental capacity to make their own choice (Carvalho