Informed consent is a cornerstone of ethical research that advanced registered nurses (ARN) must rely on when approaching evidenced based research. Informed consent is vitally important and ensures that the individuals involved fully understand the research process, all risks involved, and have their own freedom to make their own decisions regarding their involvement. Individuals involved in studies need to “have the capacity to reason, decide, and act and because they might be presumed to know better than anyone else what their interests are…[and] they have the right to make decisions concerning their healthcare” (DeNisco, 2024). With the possible risks and participant involvement there are a myriad of ethical dilemmas to consider.
One of the ethical dilemmas that ARNs face when obtaining informed consent for research is properly educating patients with the roadblock of medical terminology. When discussing procedures, risks, and studies with patients, the complexity of medical terminology can lead to challenges or concussion when obtaining informed consent. To ensure that patients comprehend the complexity of the study, nurses need to ensure that it is informed in the patient’s preferred language, it needs to be presented at a level that the patient may understand, and all questions need to be addressed.
Another ethical issue involves the trust developed between patient and ARN to ensure the nurse advocates for a rigorous ethical review process to uphold the established guidelines of the study. ARNs need to be vigilant in upholding the set ethical guidelines set even if it requires the study to be modified or paused to ensure the safety and welfare of the patients. ARN’s role in the process of informed consent extends beyond obtaining the consent, it requires clear communication, proper education, and trust between the patient and the ARN. By embodying these principles, ARNs may uphold the ethical principles of consent with participants in research studies.
References:
DeNisco, S. (2024). Advanced practice nursing: Essential knowledge for the profession (5th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning. ISBN-13: 9781284264661
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