Advanced practice nursing in all specialties is guided by codes of ethics that put the care, rights, duty, health, and safety of the patient first and foremost.

Ethical and legal foundations of pmhnp care | NURS 6660 – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Role I: Child and Adolescent | Walden University

Topic: Informed consent and capacity

Informed consent and capacity are critical ethical and legal considerations for PMHNP practice. The selected articles discuss the most salient issues related to informed consent and capacity for both adults and children/adolescents in psychiatric-mental health practice.

One of the ethical considerations related to informed consent and capacity for adults is the need to ensure that patients have sufficient information about their condition, the proposed treatment, and the potential risks and benefits of treatment options. On the other hand, for children/adolescents, the ethical consideration is to ensure that the assent process is developmentally appropriate and the parents or guardians have given informed consent.

Regarding the legal considerations, the articles highlight the need for PMHNPs to follow state laws regarding informed consent and capacity. In some states, the law allows minors to give informed consent for certain treatments, while in other states, parents or guardians must give informed consent on behalf of minors. Additionally, the articles discuss the importance of documenting the informed consent process in the patient’s medical record.

This information is applicable to my clinical practice as a PMHNP in Virginia, where the law allows minors to give informed consent for certain treatments related to mental health, such as outpatient treatment and some medications. However, it is important to ensure that the patient understands the treatment options and the potential risks and benefits of the treatment. As a PMHNP, I must also document the informed consent process in the patient’s medical record, including the information provided to the patient and any questions asked.

References:

• Swanson, J. W., Swartz, M. S., Elbogen, E. B., Van Dorn, R. A., Ferron, J., & Wagner, H. R. (2007). Facilitated psychiatric advance directives: a randomized trial of an intervention to foster advance treatment planning among persons