What should the nurse do if there is no informed consent before sending a patient to the operating room?

In the perioperative setting, informed consent is a critical legal and ethical requirement before any surgical procedure. When a patient is being prepared for surgery, it is the responsibility of the healthcare provider performing the procedure, typically the physician, to ensure that informed consent is obtained. This consent should include a thorough discussion about the risks, benefits, and alternatives to the planned procedure, allowing the patient to make an informed decision about their care.

If there is no informed consent prior to sending the patient to the operating room, the most appropriate action is to inform the physician of this oversight. By doing so, the nurse is upholding the safety and rights of the patient, as it is ultimately the physician's responsibility to secure the necessary consent before proceeding with surgery. This action helps prevent any legal issues that could arise from performing a surgical procedure without the patient’s informed consent, thus ensuring adherence to ethical and legal standards in patient care.

In contrast, trusting the surgeon to obtain consent later fails to address the immediacy of the situation and also puts the patient at risk. Inquiring about it at the front desk may not provide a timely resolution, as the responsibility lies with the physician directly involved in the procedure. Obtaining the signature without proper authority and asking a nurse