Applying Legal and Ethical Parameters to Nursing Practice

Question: Discuss about the Applying Legal and Ethical Parameters to Nursing Practice. Answer: Introduction: A Resident in your Nursing home has not had his bowels open for 6 days, and is prescribed a rectal suppository for the constipation. He has a distended abdomen, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and nausea. He refuses the suppository, stating that he believes it is something more serious than constipation. How would you react in such a situation? I would explain to the patient that she is suffering from constipation since he is showing all the symptoms of constipation, for example, six days of no bowel movement, abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite as well as distended abdomen. I would explain to him that rectal suppository is the fastest way to ensure that his constipation problem is taken care of (Blais Hayes, 2011). Discuss what your ethical and legal responsibilities are in such a situation. It is my ethical responsibility to ensure that I treat the patient as fast as possible so that the pain he is undergoing can subsidize. It is also my responsibilities to listen to the patients complaints and take the necessary measures to address them to the best of my ability (Blais Hayes, 2011). An elderly lady with dementia has given you a gold colored bracelet with large colored stones set in it, as a gift for your care. What would you do in such a situation? Patients who suffer from dementia tend to have impaired reasoning, therefore, I would not accept the gift since the old lady may not be in her right mind when handing out the gift (Blais, Hayes, 2011). Discuss this from the aspect of the legal and ethical view. Legally a medical professional is not allowed to accept gifts from a patient. this is primarily because accepting gifts crowd the medical professionals judgment, therefore, he or she may end up showing preferential treatment to the patients who have given him or her gifts and neglecting the others who are not able to hand out gifts to her or him. As far as ethics are concerned, the patient in question is suffering from dementia which is a condition that affects the brain. This, therefore, means that each and every decision that the patient makes should be carefully scrutinized since it giving out the gift may be the will of the patient but the influence of the disease making her make impaired decisions. Accepting such a small token of appreciation for the care given to the patient is not wrong but gifts of high value like a gold colored bracelet with stones raise contractual and ethical issues. The family insists that you accept the gift what would be your action in this situation? I would accept explain to them that it is not good for doctors to accept high-value gifts from patients. I would also sincerely thank them for the gesture and willingness to give assuring them that I would continue to take care of the old woman with a lot of love just like before (Helm, Lippincott Wilkins, 2003). Open disclosure is the process of open discussion with a patient, and or their family/support person about an incident(s) that resulted in harm to that patient while they were receiving health care. Australian Open Disclosure Framework: better communication a better way to care. The Review to the above document. https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Australian-Open-Disclosure-Framework-Feb-2014.pdf What are the categories of error that are reviewed in cases where Open Disclosure is warranted? Give 3 (three) examples for each category. The first category is Harm from Natural disease progression for example treatment of cancer, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease turns out to be unsuccessful. The second category is Clinical incident examples being a drug overdose, drug underdose and delay in treatment. The third is Patient harm, examples being wrong dose medication, delay in treatment as well as poor clinical coordination issues (Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, 2013). What is the purpose of Open Disclosure? The purpose of the open disclosure is to apologize to the patient and the family members of the patient and guarantee them that measures are being taken to ensure that the error will not be repeated again (Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, 2013). When should this process commence and when should changes, if any, occur? Immediately an incident that warrants open disclosure occurs, then the process should commence. Changes should occur after proper investigations are done. Coronial inquests, the role of the coroner and giving evidence as an Enrolled nurse has subtle differences dependant on where you reside in Australia and the state or territory that you are practicing in. Based on the state or territory that you are undertaking your Enrolled Nurse training, complete the following questions Describe the role of coronial inquests and the circumstances in which these are carried out? The role of coronial inquests is to ensure that all deaths, suspected deaths as well as fires are properly and exhaustively investigated. Colonial inquests are carried out in an instance where there is reasonable suspicion that someone has died an unnatural death (Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, 2013). What is the role of the coroner? A coroner is tasked with the responsibility of investigating violent, sudden as well as suspicious deaths (Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, 2013). What are the expectations of an Enrolled Nurse, should you be called upon to provide evidence at a coronial inquest? The enrolled nurse is expected to give evidence about the circumstances surrounding the death of a patient. The enrolled nurse should give factual information at all times during the whole process (Stevens, Harkin, Pay, TAFE South Australia, 2008). References Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. (2013).Australian open disclosure framework: Better communication, a better way to care. Blais, K., Hayes, J. S. (2011).Professional nursing practice: Concepts and perspectives. Boston: Pearson. Helm, A., Lippincott Williams Wilkins. (2003).Nursing malpractice: Sidestepping legal minefields. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams Wilkins. Stevens, J., Harkin, S., Pay, A., TAFE SA., South Australia. (2008).Diploma of Nursing: HLTEN509A, Apply legal and ethic parameters to nursing practice. Adelaide, S. Aust: DFEEST.