In order to understand your duties and responsibility, you need to understand the basics of informed consent. First and foremost, the patient has a legal right to determine what treatment he receives or to refuse treatment. As a nurse, you have a professional responsibility to protect that right. Informed consent consists of two basic parts. Informed is where the patient receives information about the proposed treatment or procedure.
Consent is the patient's agreement to the proposed treatment or procedure.
The name of all persons who will be performing the procedure or treatment. This includes their qualifications. An explanation and description of alternative treatments and other options, including their risks. An explanation of their right to refusal and the possible effects of not having the proposed procedure. They must also be told that they have the right to refuse this particular treatment without having other care or treatment withdrawn.