Legal Practice
Series of statutes that have been enacted by each state legislature to regulate the practice of nursing in that state... designed to protect the public
Nurse practice act
Respect for an individual's right to self-determination even if it is not in their best interest
Autonomy
What precautions should be implemented for a patient deemed as a fall risk?
side rails raised, bed in locked lowest position
remove clutter, floor rugs, non-slip socks, call light within reach, education, well-lit environment
*what puts a pt at risk for falls?
an event that can cause serious damage, destruction, injuries, and death.
Disaster
When is a nurse to report suspected child abuse?
Immediately
List 4 things nurses should be able to do while practicing nursing within the confines of the law:
safe and competent care
advocate for patients' rights
provide care within scope
provide care that is consistent with established standards of care
shield oneself from liability
know difference of nurse responsibilities to that of others on the healthcare team
The duty to do what one has promised
Fidelity
What precautions should be implemented for a patient with a history of seizures?
padded side rails, oxygen at the bedside, suction equipment, bed in the lowest position, working clock
*what are some things that we don't do?
*what are some things that we do in the event of a seizure?
a catastrophic event that overwhelms local resources.
i.e terrorist attack or chemical plant explosion
Mass casualty incident (MCI)
*the number of patients exceeds the amount of healthcare resources available
An incident happened on your shift and your patient obtained injuries from the incident. How long do you have to complete the incident report
ASAP max time 24 hours from the time of the incident
vary from state to state, and protect nurses who provide emergency assistance outside of the employment location. Nurses must provide a standard of care that is reasonable and prudent
Good samaritan laws
The obligation to do no harm or cause no harm to another
Nonmaleficence
What precautions should be implemented for fire safety?
R.A.C.E ( rescue and protect pts, activate the alarm, confine fire, extinguish the fire)
P.A.S.S (pull, aim, squeeze, sweep)
Urgent or delayed (Class II, Yellow tag)
What are some different examples of when reports should be made?
Medication errors
procedure/treatment errors
equipment-related injuries/errors
client falls/volunteer injuries
threat/injuries made to client or staff
The nurse administers a large dose of medication due to a calculation error. The client has a cardiac arrest and dies
Malpractice
Fair treatment in matters related to physical and psychosocial care and the use of resources
Justice
Oxygen use at the home
no smoking, put up signs, alert the fire department and gas company
Highest priority and highest chances of surviving once stabilized
Emergent or immediate (Class I, Red Tag)
You notice that another co-worker pocketing medication at the end of the shift. Do you report or confront the co-worker? Why or why not?
Report the co-worker to your manager/supervisor
Nurse fails to implement seizure precautions for a patient with a history of active seizures
Negligence
The undesirable outcome in which the healthcare provider decides what is best for the client and encourages them to act against their own will.
Paternalism
Home safety for infants, toddlers, preschool, school-age, adolescents
aspiration, suffocation, water safety, falls, poisoning, firearm, burns, MVA,
not expected to live comfort measures only during triage in mass casualty
Expectant (Class IV, black tag)
What needs to be included in an incident report?
Client's name, hospital room number, factual information (no opinions), witnesses others involved, corrective actions that were taken, any and all pertinent information, date, time, and location of the incident