When a nurse has a patient who speaks only Polish and requires surgical consent, which is the best alternative to take?

Using a certified translator is the best alternative in this scenario because it ensures accurate communication between the nurse and the patient. Surgical consent requires that the patient fully understands the procedure, its risks, benefits, and alternatives, making it crucial to convey this information correctly. A certified translator is trained to provide not only linguistic translation but also to convey the nuances and medical terminology necessary for informed consent.

While family members might seem like a convenient choice for translation, they may lack the expertise required to communicate complex medical information and may introduce biases or misunderstandings. Providing consent forms in multiple languages can be helpful, but it does not guarantee that the patient understands the information if they cannot read or if the nuances of language and medical terminology are not effectively conveyed. Asking the patient to sign without full understanding can lead to ethical and legal issues, as consent must be informed and voluntary.