The nurse is preparing a patient for surgery. Which action related to informed consent is within the nurse's scope of practice?

Introduction:

Therapeutic communication utilizes evidence-based interaction techniques to facilitate meaningful patient dialogue. By employing specific strategies that encourage patient expression and emotional validation, nurses create a supportive environment that enhances the nurse-patient relationship, fosters trust, and promotes successful clinical outcomes through the systematic gathering of accurate, patient-centered information.

A. Silence is a therapeutic communication technique that provides the patient with the necessary time and space to organize their thoughts, process complex emotions, and feel comfortable enough to continue sharing sensitive information without the pressure of immediate verbal output from the nurse during the clinical encounter.

B. Active listening is a foundational communication skill that involves fully concentrating on, understanding, responding to, and remembering what the patient is communicating. It demonstrates that the nurse values the patient's perspective, which is crucial for building a solid therapeutic relationship and ensuring accurate clinical assessment.

C. Asking "why" questions is considered a non-therapeutic communication barrier. These questions often sound accusatory or judgmental, which can make patients feel defensive or pressured to justify their feelings or behaviors. This approach typically shuts down open communication and creates an adversarial atmosphere that hinders the development of trust.

D. Restating is a therapeutic communication tool where the nurse repeats the patient's main ideas or key thoughts using similar words. This validates that the nurse has accurately heard and understood the patient's message, encourages the patient to elaborate further, and helps clarify potentially confusing or vague patient statements.

E. Offering advice is a non-therapeutic communication error because it shifts the responsibility for decision-making from the patient to the nurse. It undermines the patient's autonomy and their ability to solve their own problems. Effective communication empowers patients to make their own choices based on the information they have shared.

Introduction:

Fall risk mitigation strategies prioritize environmental safety interventions and functional assistance to prevent patient injury. Nurses must implement measures that enhance patient autonomy and call-for-help access while strictly avoiding actions that inadvertently create new physical hazards or violate established safety protocols for high-risk patients.

A. Frequent toileting is a highly effective, proactive intervention for patients at risk of falls. By anticipating the patient's physiological needs, the nurse reduces the impulse for the patient to attempt unassisted and unsafe transfers to the bathroom, thereby significantly decreasing the incidence of preventable falls in the clinical setting.

B. Physical restraint risk makes placing all 4 side rails in the upright position an intervention to be avoided. This action acts as a physical restraint, which can lead to increased patient agitation, attempts to climb over the rails, and severe injury if the patient falls from a greater height.

C. Educating the patient on how to use the call light is a foundational safety intervention. Ensuring the patient understands how to request assistance when needed empowers them to seek help for ambulation, which is crucial for preventing unassisted movement and maintaining patient safety throughout their hospital stay.

D. Applying a bed alarm is a standard, evidence-based intervention used for high-fall-risk patients. It provides an auditory alert to the nursing staff the moment the patient attempts to exit the bed, allowing for rapid intervention and assistance, which effectively minimizes the time the patient is left unmonitored during movement.