A nurse educator is teaching a class of newly licensed nurses about informed consent. Which of the following statements by one of the nurses Indicates an understanding of the teaching?

Informed consent requires that the client be competent — meaning they have the legal and cognitive capacity to understand information and make voluntary decisions — before signing a consent form. This statement accurately reflects a foundational requirement of informed consent law and nursing ethics. A client who lacks decision-making capacity cannot provide valid consent, and a surrogate or legal representative must act on their behalf. The statement about being present while the provider explains the procedure is incorrect because the nurse does not have to be present during the provider's explanation; however, the nurse does witness the signature and can clarify information afterward. The statement about collaborating with the provider before presenting information is not standard practice; the provider is responsible for obtaining informed consent by explaining the procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives. It is not the nurse's role to present this information jointly with the provider before the discussion. The statement that a nursing supervisor should witness the signature is also incorrect; any competent staff member, often a nurse, can witness the client's signature — there is no requirement that it be a supervisor. Understanding client competency as a prerequisite for valid informed consent is the key teaching point demonstrated here.