Patient narratives 2: helping patients to give informed consent

The validity of consent may be affected by the power imbalance between health professionals and patients. Nurses need to reflect on these power inequalities. This is the second article in a seven-part series demonstrating the value of analysing patient narratives in nursing and nurse education. Part 1 reviewed the evidence regarding the use of narrative and focused on unintended communication. This article draws on a story exploring consent and capacity, and demonstrates the lessons that can be learnt for all fields of nursing. We hope your reflections on the narratives will help to inform your professional practice and provide evidence for revalidation.