Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse Practice Test

The nurse is caring for a patient admitted to the emergency department after a motor vehicle accident. Under the law, the nurse must obtain informed consent before treatment unless the patient:

1. Is mentally ill

2. Refuses to give informed consent

3. Is in an emergency situation

4. Asks the nurse to give substituted consent

The correct answer is: Is in an emergency situation

In this scenario, the patient has been admitted to the emergency department after a motor vehicle accident. This is considered an emergency situation, and therefore, the nurse does not need to obtain informed consent before providing treatment. Options A, B, and D are incorrect because they reference circumstances that do not apply to this specific situation. A patient being "mentally ill" does not automatically exclude them from giving informed consent, as their mental state could still allow them to understand and make decisions about their own treatment. If a patient "refuses" to give informed consent, then the nurse must respect their decision and not provide treatment. And "substituted consent" refers to when a patient is unable to give consent and someone legally authorized to act on their behalf must make the decision. This does not apply in this scenario as the patient is conscious and able to make their own decisions. Therefore, option C is the correct answer.