Legal Issues In Nursing

As a nursing student I am taught how to document using special medical terminology, and the importance of documenting, however the article “Stay Out of Court with Proper Documentation” by Sally Austin confirms just how critical it is to be accurate, timely, and unbiased with patient documentation. Proper documentation not only helps keep the patient safe, but just as importantly protects the nurse should a lawsuit occur. Austin’s article defines the legal terms used in the more common lawsuit, negligence, involving nurses and how to avoid them. First, the patient must prove four things in order for a lawsuit to be deemed in their favor: A duty to the patient existed, a breach of duty occurred, the patient was injured, and lastly the injury

Similarly, provision six states that nurses must keep the conditions and standards of the ethical environment high to achieve the best care (ANA, 2015, p.v). In other words, nurses have a duty to be ethically aware and supportive to help maintain the best environment for patients, families, and other healthcare members. Additionally, when an ethical dilemma arises within the environment, it is appropriate to make informed decisions and advocate for the patient. Provision seven expresses the idea that scholarly research, the advancement of professional standards, and the implementation of health and nursing policy allow nurses to advance the overall practice (ANA, 2015, p.v). In my opinion, provision seven describes the nurse's obligation to lifelong learning.

(2014, June 6). Retrieved from ANA American Nurses Association: http://nursingworld.org/DocumentVault/Ethics-1/Code/Code-Provision-1.pdf Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements Provision 2. (2014, June 6). Retrieved from ANA American Nurses Association: http://nursingworld.org/DocumentVault/Ethics-1/Code/Code-Provision-4.pdf Kangasniemi, M. P. (2014). Professional Ethics in Nursing:

An experience in Optum’s case management process if the requirement to address a member’s lifestyle factors telephonically when addressing right care, right providers, and right medications. However, the problem in professional nursing practice, that is of interest, is the need to deliver more person-centered care when addressing lifestyle factors. Moreover, Optum’s mission is to help the health care system work better for everyone by helping members live healthier lives (UnitedHealth Group, 2017). Nurses at Optum understand in order to empower consumers, the quality of care must be improved while lowering costs and increasing satisfaction.

The Code of Ethics is an evolving document, reflecting the intertwined matrix between changes in the nursing profession and evolution in the social order. The Nursing’s Social Policy Statement (NSPS) is closely tied to the ANA Code of Ethics, and explores the foundational elements behind nursing’s social contract (ANA, 2015). The academic fields of philosophy and government brought about the idea of social concept. Social contract may be written into law and professesional codes of ethics, however the essence of the concept remains unwritten (ANA, 2015). As social concept related to nursing, the NSPS guidelined do not center around the nurse-patient relationship but rather focuses in the broader relationship between nursing and society.

Some benefits of shared governance include increased team cohesiveness, communication, and decision making. According to Wilson, Speroni, Jones, and Daniel (2014), “Shared governance activities give direct care nurses an opportunity to partner with nursing management to achieve optimal patient outcomes and to increase nurse job satisfaction, nurse productivity, and nurse retention” (p.19). “Challenges of shared governance identified by staff nurse included decrease staffing, budget concerns, lack of knowledge, generational issues and issue with delegation of tasks” (Ott and Ross, 2014 p. 767). These challenges poses a threat to providing quality patient

Ethical Issues in Nursing: Nurse-Patient Ratios Megan Harvey, Katie McKelvery, Erica Robbins & Cassandra Tingley St. Johns River State College March 2018 Ethical Issues in Nursing: Nurse-Patient Ratios Every day nurses are faced with ethical dilemmas. Challenges in these situations are becoming more and more complex due to increasing workload and sicker patients. When a nursing unit is understaffed not only are nurses more likely to become burnt out, but their patients are far less likely to receive the quality of care they deserve. The problem is that the Federal regulations require hospitals who participate in Medicare to “have ‘adequate’ numbers of licensed nurses (RN, LPN, CNA) to provide care to all patients as needed,” but the regulations

For this assignment, I have read the critical thinking exercise in regards to the predicament of Nurse Olivia Witte. I will address the seven questions at the end of the critical exercise. I will also define the elements of group interaction. I will discuss the various conflict management strategies and conflict resolution techniques. I will identify strategies to manage group and team behaviors.

This paper seeks to analyze the legal and ethical issues arising from Jessica’s case scenario. Jessica is a third year nursing student tasked with performing a medication round. During the round, Jessica was unable to read a medication order for one of her patients and sought assistance from her buddy registered nurse. The registered nurse admitted that she could not read the medication order but told her what she thought the medication was and suggested that she should go ahead and administer it. Jessica is torn between trusting the experience of the registered nurse and following the nursing code of ethics in solving to solve the issue.

As a nurse we have become more involved in the legislative process particular in the subject of health policy (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2008). A nurse is someone that is looked at in a positive light for being honest, unbiased, and ethical. I recognize that I must be an advocate for patient’s health and must be actively involved in the legislative process when it will affect my professional responsibilities. A number of laws start out as an idea that solves a problem or issue that is facing an individual. In order to become a policy it must complete the appropriate steps of the legislative process.

The ethics of nursing has contributed too many of the principles balcony of the in medical profession such as good, do no harm, and respect for autonomy and the excellence to maintain the dignity of the patient and the care co-op. the ethics of nursing contributed also towards more duty nurse respect for human rights of the patient, and this is reflected in the number of professional codes for nurses. Requires from health care providers to keep a patient’s personal health information private unless consent to release the information is provided by the patient”. (Jessica De Bord et al ,2013).All information concerning the client is considered personal property and is not to be discussed with other clients or outside the hospital setting. In addition, Create an environment of trust by respecting patient privacy encourages the patient to get care, to be honest, when as much as possible, this stimulates the patient to accept the full health for conditions that might be stigmatizing for example: public health, reproductive, sexual, and psychiatric health concerns, confidentiality ensures that private information will not be disclosed to family or employers without their consent.

It also provided the use of critical thinking and clinical judgment on how to prevent falls, support, and be accountable for a client professionally. The practical knowledge I have learned helped me become aware of assessing and assisting a client. As a nurse, our job is to provide “safe, compassionate, competent and ethical care” (p.8) and collaborate as an interprofessional team to deliver safe care and prevent risks from happening while offering quality nursing care (CNA, 2017). I will always provide the professional care under the code of ethics to promote health and wellness for an older adult and prevent risks from happening. As well as following the plan of care, use communication strategies, be aware, acknowledge, and accommodate individuals with different diseases such as with dementia, to promote fall prevention strategies (RNAO, 2017).

Unfortunately, there are numerous ethical dilemmas in the field of nursing. Each day a new conflict may arise that goes against your ethical beliefs, but as a nurse you still must follow through with the patients wishes and provide them with the medical care they need. The authors of “Ethical Problems Observed by Student Nurses,” Fethiye Erdil and Fatos Korkmaz, are in the department of nursing at Hacettepe University. This article is based off a study that was conducted in Turkey with 153 nursing students in a university-based nursing program. The study lead to the discovery that patents where mistreated by the medical staff, and the confidentiality of the patient was often ignored.

Registered nurses are required to deliver wide-range nursing attention and treatment to all persons in a healthcare setup (American Nurses ' Association, 2000). Notably, they have to offer emergency care and guarantee the safe execution of treatment. It is mandatory for nurses to demonstrate a broad knowledge of the laws and regulations that are in line with their profession. Additionally,

They are able to connect, communicate and coordinate across multiple departments, professional opinions and voices, and the daily schedules of patients. Advocating and designing care with the patient and family is a true skills set and cultural attribute that adds tremendously to a culture of safety and patient – centeredness but requires the most able leadership to build these bridges across the many professionals engaged in care. Building this culture is a leadership challenge and there is no one in my experience better able to make these changes than nursing leaders ( Maureen Bisognano, 2009). Nurses should not just be at the bedside or within the nursing community but must be involved as leaders and decision – makers throughout the healthcare system. As Maureen Bisognano (2009) points out, the best nurses are accomplished envoys among different players and interests involved in direct patient care, which is a skill needed throughout organizations and businesses, not just in hospitals or