NURS 2210 Roles II: Unit II
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Transcript of NURS 2210 Roles II: Unit II
NURS 2210 Roles II: Unit II
Legal and Ethical ConceptsNancy Pares RN, MSN
Metro Community College
Laws define and limit relationships Sources of public law
◦ Constitutional
◦ Administrative
◦ Criminal Felony vs misdemeanor
Obj 1: Review legal standards
Civil Law◦ Contract
Involves compensation, mutual understanding Implied contract
Employer policies, fulfill terms, respect others◦ Tort
Wrongful act against another◦ Protective/reporting
HIPPA Good Samaritan
Adequate assistance
Reasonable conduct from clients
Compensation
Reasonable treatment by co workers
Nurses also have rights
State◦ Unintentional torts
Negligence Duty Breach of Duty Injury Causation
Malpractice
Tort law
Assault
Battery
False imprisonment Restraints (OBRA)
Invasion of privacy Right to be left alone; consent for no treatment
Defamation
fraud
Intentional Torts
Intent is lacking, but a willfull action is evident◦ Defamation of character◦ Invasion of privacy◦ Breech of confidentiality
Quasi intentional
Defined by Practice Acts and Standards of Care
RN is legally responsible to ensure that the client receives competent, safe and holistic care.
Best Defense ◦ Actively participate in NNA◦ Attend continuing ed on legal issues◦ Call State Board with any questions about
practice◦ Stay current in hospital policies and procedures
Legal responsibilities of RN
Unprofessional conduct◦ Delegation, HIPPA, lack of knowledge; abuse, false
documentation, leaving assignment Impaired Nurse
◦ Duty to report Safety
◦ Understaffing◦ Mandatory overtime◦ Reassignment
Executing prescribed orders
Responsibilities
Whistle blowing
Nursing students
Professional liability insurance
Advance Directives
Other legal issues
DNR orders Euthanasia Wills Pronouncement of Death Care of the deceased Organ donation autopsies
Legal issues related to death
Ethics◦ Study of rightness of conduct◦ Vs. morality?
Relationship between ethics and legal◦ Ethical opinions reflect individual differences◦ Human behavior and motivation are too complex
to be accurately reflected in law◦ The legal system judges action rather than
intention◦ Laws change according to social and political
influences
Obj 2 Review ethical principles
Working in a clinic that performs abortions
Honoring a terminally ill client request for no heroic actions
d/c a comotose client life support at the request of the family
Diverting meds from a client for your own use
Ethical vs. Legal…or both
Autonomy Beneficience Confidentiality Double effect Fidelity Justice Nonmaleficence Paternalism Sanctity of life veracity
Ethical Principles
M ….. Massage the dilemma
O…outline options
R…resolve
A…act by applying options
L…look back and evaluate
MORAL model
Maximize client well being Balance client needs with family
responsibilities Support family and enhance support system Carry out hospital policies Protect other client well being Protect nursing standards
Nurse obligations in ethical decisions
Is the action good or neutral?
Is the intent good?
Good effect cannot be achieved by bad action
Balance of good/bad
Critical thinking
Human caring should guide the practice Confidentiality
◦ Privacy, misuse of information Restraints Trust Refusing to provide care Food and fluid
Basics of nursing ethics
Nancy Cruzan
Terri Shiavo
Preventative ethics
Practice with compassion and respect Nurses primary commitment is to the
patient Nurse advocates, protects the patient Nurse is responsible and accountable for
actions Nurse must maintain competence and
professional growth Nurse participates in improving health Nurse contributes to profession thru
community, educational and social situations
Code of Ethics
Dx: missed abortion—client hospitalized, D&C was scheduled—client discussed with MD
Nurse administered preop meds then noted that there was no consent signed. Surgery was postponed awaiting MD. MD arrived and had pt sign and husband also-witnessed by RN.
Procedure resulted in perforation, OB attempted to repair—called in general surgeon-- required removal of 1 ft of bowel
Result: likely to have higher incidence of SBO
Case 1
Was the hospital liable to obtain informed consent?
Issue:
1985- Nurse Midwife advertised ‘Family Birth’
Hospital Chief of Staff – OB wrote a letter to the administration of two hospitals stating that home deliveries were being done without qualified supervision.
Same MD confronted nurse midwife at L&D Nurse midwife was prohibited from the
hospital.
Case 2
Was the slander actionable?
Issue
Client with fx leg—cast applied; orders to have nursing check hourly and call with concerns
Charting notes gap from 4am to 830 am. MD examines at 830—compartment
syndrome and identification of tissue death—leg amputated
Case 3
Was documentation considered substandard and cause for patient to suffer injury?
Issue
Female patient admitted to LTC—noted large diamond ring and informed that she should not keep in her room. Pt kept the ring.
Ring disappeared—investigation proved fruitless—thru a ‘tip’ a nurse aid was implecated—arrested and pled guilty
Case 4
Was the nursing home responsible for the property damage sustained by the resident?
Issue:
Male was admitted to psych unit on Nov 21due to being a threat to himself and others. Meeting held on Nov 23 determined that he was able to be released. (Thanksgiving holiday)
Male entered house on Dec 5 and killed one individual and wounded two others, then shot himself.
Case 5
Was the institution liable for discharging the patient and the subsequent deaths?
Issue
What are they?
What about gossip amongst peers?
What about behaviors of student nurses?
Ethical Behaviors in Professional Nursing
How do we apply these standards in the classroom?
What should be done if student cheats? Lies to instructor? Copies from other’s work Instructor or student ‘bullies’
Legal and ethical standards in the classroom