Transcript Transition to Registered Nursing: Ethical Decision Making

Transition to Registered
Nursing
Ethics and Legal Issues of
Professional Nursing
West Coast University
Week 8
8-1
Objectives
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Discuss Ethics as it applies to professional
nursing practice
Describe legal issues
Present a case study to discuss ethical
decision-making
8-2
First let’s look at some words
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Values
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Morals
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Beliefs that guide our thoughts and actions
Rules of right and wrong that guide decisions
and behavior; the faithful observance to noncodified personal beliefs
Ethics
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How people act because of a moral standard;
the formal and systematic study of moral
beliefs
8-3
First let’s look at some words
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Bioethics
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Applied ethics
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Ethical theories and principles in health care
situations
Put into practice
Ethical dilemma
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Conflicts between two or more ethical
principles
8-4
Teleology (utilitarianism)
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Humanistic and out-come orientated
approach
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The greatest good for the greatest number
The end justifies the means
8-5
Deontology
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The right or wrong of an action is
dependent upon the morality of the action
The action is moral if it is based on good
will
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To do one’s duty is right
To not do one’s duty is wrong
8-6
Ethical Principles in Professional
Nursing Practice
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Justice
Autonomy
Beneficence
Nonbeneficence
(Nonmalefiecence)
Fidelity
Veracity
8-7
Nurses Code of Ethics
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2001 Provisions
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Nine
http://nursingworld.org/ethics/code/prot
ected_nwcoe303.htm
8-8
Provisions
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Practice with compassion and respect
regardless of social, economic or personal
attributes
Primary commitment to the patient:
individual, family, group, or community
8-9
Provisions
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Promotes, advocates and strives to protect
health, safety and patient rights
Accountable for individual nursing practice
and delegates appropriately to provide
optimum care
Cares for self as others and continues
professional growth
8-10
Provisions
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Participates in establishing,
maintaining, and improving health
care environments and working
conditions for quality health care
Participates in advancement of the
profession through practice,
education, administration and
knowledge development
8-11
Provisions
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Collaborates with other health
professionals and the public
promoting community, national and
international efforts to meet health
needs
The profession of nursing is
responsible for articulating nursing
values to maintain integrity of the
profession, its practice and shaping
social policy
8-12
Ethical decision-making
Step
Clarify the ethical
dilemma
Thoughts
Gather the data
Identify options
Making decisions
Choosing a course of
action
Evaluation
8-13
Legal Issues
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Torts
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intentional or unintentional civil wrong that
results in physical, emotional or economic
harm
8-14
Legal Issues
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Negligence
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A reasonable act that a prudent person would
not have done in a same or similar situation
8-15
Legal Issues
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Malpractice
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Professional negligence
Good Samaritan Law
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If you act prudently you can not be sued
8-16
Legal Issues
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Assault
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A threat or attempt to make physical
contact with someone that does not
desire contact
Battery
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A completed assault – someone has
physical contact that did not give
permission or consent
8-17
Legal Issues
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Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPPA)
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Protected Health Information (PHI)
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Not an option, patients need to know, can
have copies of medical records
Can’t trace or lead to patient identification
Nurse Practice Act
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Defines and describes the scope of nursing
practice
8-18
What would you do????
Mr. J 63 y/o Hispanic male who has recently
had a bilateral BKA due to diabetic foot
ulcers. He lives alone and refuses anymore
care. He demands to go home, his family
refuses to care for him, and refuses home
health.
8-19
Next Week
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Final
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Are you taking practice tests?
8-20