Spend your time wisely! Private duty nurses, being self-regulating or independent practitioners, are bound to a standard of conduct that is expected of reasonably prudent nurses. Background:Ethical and legal issues are increasingly being reported by health caregivers; however, little is known about the nature of these issues in geriatric care. This chapter provides a broad overview of the major legal and ethical issues as . Archives. Timeliness: Note that most articles published on this website remain on the website indefinitely. In addition, the nurse should also pay close attention to the concerns of the family members because they also are ones who often notice when a patient's condition has changed. This is one reason why nurses establish rapport at the beginning of the nurse-patient relationship. Focusing on the ethical principle approaches for identifying and resolving any conflicts, issues, and concerns, seven principles of nursing ethics has been explained. In such scenarios, a nurse can be liable for malpractice allegations. Airth-Kindree, N, M, M., & Kirkhorn, L, C. (2016). These injuries occur when patients fight against the restraints, try to overcome them (such as by climbing out of a bed with side rails) or when they contract infections from being immobilized for long periods, or, tragically, suffocate or strangle when restraints are improperly applied or neglected. The records that are the subject of medico-legal cases should be maintained until the final disposal of the case even though only a complaint or notice is received. Even when medical and law practice change, the basic nursing ethical principles remain firm. Leaving a foreign object in a patients body during surgery, ie: errors in sponge, instrument or needle count in surgical cases 3. The nurse could seek help from colleagues instead of leaving the patient alone. They should also know and understand what is happening to their loved one. In the scenario, RN did not maintain the communication with the patient where she did not explain the post-op care. Differentiate among the three major categories of law on which nursing practice is established and governed. The law defines it as the failure of a professional person in accordance with prevailing professional standards or failure to foresee the consequences of their actions.. Researchers Nicolas Castle and John Engberg found that restrained residents of nursing home had poorer health outcomes when it came to behavior, cognitive performance, falls, independence in walking, activities of daily living, and other health factors. By whitelisting SlideShare on your ad-blocker, you are supporting our community of content creators. The significance of medical records is both scientific and legal. Nurses encounter a variety of ethically challenging situations, many of which require split-second judgment calls. Nurses are highly accountable to patients, the public, employers, and the entire profession. The nurses' notes are aids to medical diagnosis and in understanding the patient's behavior. These codes provide the guidelines and standard which should be followed by the nurse. What do you know about your patient? Wooooman Nurses get sued more statistically speaking. Management and care should have been provided accordingly. This essay will also explain the code of ethics, code of conduct and ethical principle conflicts and elaborate on the possible actions that could be taken by the RN in providing care to Ms. Mavis. His research showed that an important factor causing nursing home and hospital personnel to avoid the requirements of the law is under-staffing. Above all, the best way for the nurse to avoid a lawsuit is to be aware of the standards of nursing practice and follow them by heart. . Registered office: Creative Tower, Fujairah, PO Box 4422, UAE. As a record of illness and treatment, it saves duplication in future cases and it helps in immediate treatment. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this essay are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of NursingAnswers.net. allnurses is a Nursing Career & Support site for Nurses and Students. There are various ethical theories and approaches used in managing ethical dilemmas, conflicts, and issues. By submitting this form, I am providing my digital signature agreeing that University of South Carolina Aiken (USC Aiken) may email me or contact me regarding educational services by telephone and/or text message utilizing automated technology or a pre-recorded message at the telephone number(s) provided above. Mandatory reporting. Study for free with our range of nursing lectures! Retrieved 1/8/2016. Nurses must communicate with patients, co-workers, physicians and other healthcare professionals to successfully carry out their duties. Patients are the core of professional and ethical nursing practice. If not, you may need a nursing assignment help to prepare a wonderful solution. including the necessity to have written authorization from a physician, 2.) Copyright 2023by the Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina. Use appropriate caution in acting on the information of any article. Law Law is defined as a code that regulates nurses' conduct (their actions). Along with heart disease and cancer, it is a . We cannot bring dead people back to life. You can face serious consequences such as; and cancellation. Published: 28th Oct 2020. Rights and Duties of Doctors - Part 2 By Dr. Ghazala Shaikh, Medico legal guidelines the following category of cases should be made as m. Medico legal Scenario Today- Awesome or Worrisome ? The nurse failed to deliver quality care to the patient and also did not maintain the standard of care as she was expected to (Chadwick, Tadd, & Gallagher, 2016). Have a question or concern about this article? a limited time of use, and 3.) In such cases, nurses are required to adhere to the key nursing ethical principles. Hospitals | Legal / Ethical | Nursing Practices Nurse Safety: How Do We Ensure It? If the decision is for payment of money, the plaintiff may cause the sheriff to sell so much of the defendant's property as necessary to pay for the costs. a known duty, the duty has been met, possible harm, and unknown. One vital responsibility of the nurse is to make sure that the equipment used in procedures and treatments is not defective. The Code of Ethics for Nurses serves the following purposes: It is a succinct statement of the ethical values, obligations, duties, and professional ideals of nurses individually and collectively. By accepting, you agree to the updated privacy policy. Documentation of patient care may not be nurses' favorite activity, however, nurses who find themselves involved in lawsuits and have documented thoroughly will thank themselves later. State nursing boards, as well as the public, expect the nursing practice to be perfect because the field deals with life. You can face serious consequences such as; admonishment and cancellation. The consumers/patients have right to ask the care they are entitled for. Also, they are obliged to take into account all the possible values of their actions and the patient's well-being and health. Int J Older People Nurs 2014; 9(2): 131-139 . Nurses and other professionals engaged in healthcare generally practice in such an environment which is getting advance in terms of technology, the pressure to cover costs and advances in medical science. A case of malpractice must satisfy these four conditions: Negligence is very similar to malpractice but is usually differentiated by intent. An RN to BSN program often includes coursework dedicated to these specific legal challenges, provides ways for nurses to appropriately report concerns and helps them protect their licensures and livelihoods. Looks like youve clipped this slide to already. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that one in five of the countrys residents will reach retirement age by 2030. According to the law, this action is considered as the tort of battery or crime of assault. Activate your 30 day free trialto unlock unlimited reading. When RN recorded the patient's vital signs being altered, she should have done further comprehensive and mental assessment. What tax forms should I have ready to file in 2023? This essay should not be treated as an authoritative source of information when forming medical opinions as information may be inaccurate or out-of-date. knowledge of staff nurses regarding ethical and legal issues in nursing Authors: Hebsiba Ponnayyan SREE GOKULAM MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL AND RESEARCH FOUNDATION deepa m Deepa Dr. N.G.P. The articles on ethical and legal issues are written in a comprehensible style and official documents are analysed in a user-friendly | View full journal description. Medico-Legal Issues in WOC Nursing. She did not maintain a good relationship with the patient as she failed to do communication. The American Nurses Association Code of Ethics is generally said as a living document which alters as a profession in advance. 3 Challenges What makes trauma care (the emergency department) different? It is necessary that the Government frames guidelines for the duration for which medical records are preserved by the hospitals so that hospitals are protected from unnecessary . RN not only failed to maintain the standard of practice but also breached the duty of care, legislation, and law. Legal issues surrounding blood transfusion The law of informed consent The four components of consent to medical treatment are consent must be given voluntarily a patient must have capacity consent must be specific to both the treatment and the person providing it consent must be informed, i.e., that the patient must understand the nature of . Nursing Ethical Considerations. There are three primary duties for nurses, among many others, which are the duty of autonomy, confidentiality, and duty of care to all patients. This is an excellent article on the present state of nursing legal issues. Neither the patient nor the nurse does a hundred percent effort towards attaining the goal which is to achieve the optimum functioning of the client. You are given one minute per question. But informed consent should be taken when the patient is cognitively able to make a decision. Those who are well aware of their legal responsibilities and obligations can better advocate for themselves or on behalf of their patients if a breach occurs. Nurses have an ethical obligation to maintain and improve health care practice environments conducive to the provision of quality health care (ANA 2001). Use of physical restraints and antipsychotic medicines in nursing homes: a cross-national study. Are weight loss supplements safe for seniors? There are many legal issues in nursing to be aware of during ones nursing practice. +61 480 015 851, There are three main components. The platform where you can get the. However, it has its liability issues and legal pitfalls. 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