Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) CBT Practice Test

Consent plays a fundamental role in nursing practice by ensuring that patient autonomy and rights are respected. When healthcare professionals seek consent from patients, they are acknowledging the patient’s right to make informed decisions about their own health and treatment options. This principle is rooted in ethical practice, which emphasizes that individuals should have the power to direct their own lives and make choices regarding their health without coercion or undue influence.

When consent is obtained, it also implies that the patient has been provided with sufficient information about the proposed treatment, including potential risks, benefits, and alternatives. This process empowers patients, fostering trust and improving the therapeutic relationship between the patient and nursing staff. Ultimately, respecting patient autonomy through informed consent aligns with ethical principles of beneficence and non-maleficence, ensuring that healthcare is patient-centered.

While obtaining consent may also offer legal protection for healthcare providers and is part of ensuring smooth treatment processes, these aspects are secondary to its primary role of upholding the patient's rights and autonomy.