Ethical principles
What does Beneficence mean?
-- To do good, best for individual pt
-- The duty to act to benefit or promote the health and well-being of others (e.g. spending extra time to help calm an anxious person)
Review Code of Ethics of Nurses!
Treat all clients with compassion and respect
Primary commitment is to the client
Advocates for client’s rights, health, and safety
Obligated to promote health and provide optimal care
Obligation to ensure safety among staff, client, other clients, and visitors
Collaborates with other disciplines to ensure best care
Integrate social justice, research, and professional standards of care
What is Tort law?
-- these are acts or omissions that give rise to harms that can lead to a civil wrong. Nurses need to be aware of both types of tort law (intentional and unintentional torts).
(1) what is autonomy?
(2) what is justice?
(200 more points added)!
(1) Respecting the rights of others to make their own decisions (ex; acknowledging the pts right to refuse medication supports autonomy).
(2) the duty to distribute resources or care equally, regardless of personal attributes (ex; an ICU nurse devotes equal attention to someone who has attempted suicide as to someone who suffered a brain aneurysm).
What is voluntary admission?
-- Most pts are admitted to the hospital b/ they want care. The pt understands the need for tx. Voluntary pts have the right to request and obtain release.
What is intentional Torts?
(200 points added)!
--Assault: verbal threats, intimidation
-- Battery: offensive touching, forcing meds
-- False imprisonment: confined to an area, giving meds to sedate pt
-- Invasion of privacy: taking pictures of clients without their consent
What is non-maleficence?
--Doing no harm to the pt (ex; protecting confidential info about a pt).
What is involuntary admission?
If the pt is deemed one of the involuntary admission reasons, how long is the pt held for while being evaluated?
used only:
1. Danger to self (suicidal)
2. Danger to others (homicidal)
3. Gravely disabled (unable to care for self
4. In need of tx but the illness prevents voluntary help-seeking
--If pt is deemed to be one of these above, they will be admitted to the hospital and kept there while they being evaluated. This is completed during a 72 hour period of time.
--Mental health hold: held in an impatient facility for 72 hours and evaluated for safety
-- If the pts evaluation shows they are not one of the above criteria, they are released form the "Hold"
What is unintentional torts?
--Negligence: failure to do something--question an order, teach a pt, protect pt from self-harm
-- Malpractice: Duty, breach of duty, cause in fact and proximate cause, and damages.
What is veracity?
-- the duty to communicate truthfully (ex; describing the purpose and side effects of psychotropic medications in a truthful and non-misleading way)
Review standards of nursing care!
Nurses are held to a basic standard of care.
State Boards of Nursing have the authority to license nurses who meet a minimum competency score on board examinations.
Professional Associations can self-regulate the practice of nursing by setting standards of excellence.
to honor the patient’s right to self-determination (advance directives)
If policies on a unit or facility are insufficient to keep the client and other’s safe, nurses should question the policy and uphold all standards of care.
Duty to intervene and report if a peer is negligent with their practice; Could be client abandonment- must have another competent nurse taking the care of the client. Obligation to share information with the care team.
Documentation of Care – The purpose of Documentation is to record accurate and complete information about the care and treatment of patients. Medical records provide quality improvement and legal evidence. Nurses are responsible for their own documentation. Correct documentation includes quotations from the patient.
Correct documentation provides key information with time stamps in a clear timeline.
Patients have a right to their medication records.
What is Fidelity?
--Maintaining loyalty and commitment to the pt and doing no wrong to the pt (ex; maintaining expertise in nursing skill through continuing nurse education).
Clients rights review!!
Right to treatment- least restrictive environment, privacy and dignity
Right to refuse treatment- only exception is emergency medications and court-ordered medications
Right to Informed Consent- understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives and willingly agree. Signed Consent for release of records.
Rights with Seclusion and Restraints- must attempt to de-escalate before using
Confidentiality- applies even after demise, information to be passed to only people who need to know. Exceptions: Duty to warn, reporting child or elder abuse
Failure to protect clients- do not leave any safety risk situation unattended