Expert assessment of practical approaches to optimize the participation of nurses in obtaining informed consent from the patient

INTRODUCTION: Nurses are an important resource to the health system and occupy a significant place in providing effective and quality healthcare. At the same time, obtaining informed consent is an important aspect in the nurses` work. Therefore, the opinion survey and the evaluation of experts on developing practical approaches aim to optimize the participation of nurses in the process of informed consent and have a great scientific and practical significance. AIM: To study the opinion and evaluation of experts on developing practical approaches to optimize the participation of nurses in the process of obtaining informed consent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have attached an analysis of the literature and used a documentary and an expert assessment method. An expert assessment of our own developed practical approaches was performed in the period March-September, 2015. It involved 50 experts - chief and senior nurses at the St. Marina University Hospital and used a questionnaire method of interviewing. Its aim was to optimize the participation of nurses in the process of informed consent of the patient. RESULTS: The majority of the experts approved the presented algorithm for obtaining informed consent from the patient and confirmed that the algorithm can be applied in the working process of the nurses. With regard to the presented data sheet for obtaining informed consent for intravenous injection (invasive nursing manipulation) the experts expressed concerns about the possible difficulties in putting it into practice, citing the shortage of nursing staff and time. A significant majority of experts, however, approved the technical sheet and evaluated it as applicable in nursing practice. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the expert assessment lead to the conclusion that the proposed practical approaches are applicable in nursing practice and will help to optimize the process of informed consent, respect the patient‘s right to informed consent, the professional comfort and safety of nurses.