When a minor's child needs medical treatment and the parent is a minor, what is the appropriate step for consent?

• A. The nurse should obtain consent from adult guardian.
• B. The nurse should wait for court to authorize consent.
• C. The nurse should ask the minor to give consent.
• D. The nurse should obtain consent from the minor's spouse.

Answer: (C)

Consent for a minor’s medical treatment comes from the person who has legal guardianship of the child. If the parent is a minor, they still act as the guardian of their own child, so the nurse should obtain consent from the minor parent. This ensures the decision about the child’s care is made by someone with parental responsibility and helps avoid delays from involving courts or an unrelated adult. The minor child cannot provide consent for the parent’s child, and the spouse generally does not have automatic authority to consent unless they share guardianship or are the other parent with legal rights.