Case Study Mavis

Therefore, this essay will discuss Mavis given health condition. Mavis is 60 years old retired Nurse who had undergone a laparotomy for an acute bowel obstruction. According to the case study, Mavis first day post-op and her recovery has been uneventful. It is stated that Mavis vital signs have all been within normal limits. However, that morning, Mavis vital signs have somewhat altered with her heart rate has increased to 92bpm, her blood pressure has decreased to 105/70, temperature is 38.o C. Even though she looked a little pale, she did not pass urine since midnight she had an IV infusion insitu.

Even though Mavis seemed fine this morning, she told the nurses that she wanted to go home as she is due to start work soon. Mavis became frustrated
In this given case study, Mavis had to right to make her informed decision about the type of treatment she would like to receive as a result of her condition. However, nurse’s duty of care is overriding Mavis autonomy, as she seems confused and unable to make own decision. As indicated in the case study, the nursing staff told Mavis that they needed to attend to her hygiene needs, she refuses to return to her room and told the nursing staff that “I don’t want to wash”. Mavis has the right to make her own decision and refuse to be washed. It is the student nurse therefore to explain to Mavis what was transpiring as she is lacking capacity to make informed decisions for herself. Mavis lack of capacity to make decision was demonstrated by her removing the dressing from her wound site, and smearing faeces across her abdomen and unto her surgical wound. Therefore, Mavis was unable to give valid consent to the nursing staff to attend to her. Valid consent is said to be given when a patient has the capacity to make decision and consents voluntarily to be attended to whilst implied consent is when a patient could not make right decision in respect of their treatment and daily activities performed by them. In this case study, Mavis could not make a right decision as seemed confused by her refusal (Johnstone,
Ethical principle is the core of health care. It is about being able to deliberate the pros and cons of a given situation before making any sound decision especially when one is faced with ethical dilemmas, one has to justify their action or inaction for it is ethical. In this case study, the student nurse and RN preceptor were in an ethical dilemma between respecting Mavis wishes and ignoring her wish and proceed with washing her. Nursing staff had to work within their scope of work according to the guidelines for health professional in the ANMC (2006). As a nursing staff and in the health care profession, if this happens balancing of the rules and nurse obligations is very important. Legally keeping all documents is significant, as this will provide relevant evidence and proof of actions and inactions taken during the care times of every individual