Legal Aspects and Ethics
Foundations of Nursing
Legal Aspects
1. What is the Nurse Practice Act and what does it meant to you as an incoming nursing student and later as a licensed Registered Nurse?
The nurse practice act defines and describes the scope of nursing practice in each state which is determined by the board of nursing. It is important as a student because it defines what is in our scope of practice, what we are allowed to do and not allowed to do. It is also important as a licensed registered nurse because we will need to know what is in our scope of practice, so we know what we can and can’t do as a nurse.
2. What are the standards of care? How does evidence based practice relate to standards of care?
Standards of care define type of nursing care needed for specific, medical diagnosis.
3. Define informed consent. What is the nurse’s role related to (r/t) informed consent?
Informed consent is an important legal document that the patient signs saying they fully understand the procedure that will take place. The nurse is involved usually by witnessing the patient’s signature on the consent document The nurse is responsible for making sure that the consent form contains all correct and necessary information, is properly signed and witnessed and is part of the patient’s medical record before the surgical procedure begins.
Read the following case study and complete the respective questions.
INFORMED CONSENT CASE STUDY
A patient going in for surgery for an abdominal incisional hernia has signed consent for the procedure. The doctor brings the signed consent form out to the nurses’ station and asks a nurse to sign the form and they do. The nurse goes into the room after the doctor leaves and is now questioned about the procedure by the patient.
a. What’s the appropriate steps the nurse needs to take?
The nurse will need to tell the patient to ask the doctor their questions. The nurse can help the patient gather all their questions, then go get the doctor
Legal Aspects
1. What is the Nurse Practice Act and what does it meant to you as an incoming nursing student and later as a licensed Registered Nurse?
The nurse practice act defines and describes the scope of nursing practice in each state which is determined by the board of nursing. It is important as a student because it defines what is in our scope of practice, what we are allowed to do and not allowed to do. It is also important as a licensed registered nurse because we will need to know what is in our scope of practice, so we know what we can and can’t do as a nurse.
2. What are the standards of care? How does evidence based practice relate to standards of care?
Standards of care define type of nursing care needed for specific, medical diagnosis.
3. Define informed consent. What is the nurse’s role related to (r/t) informed consent?
Informed consent is an important legal document that the patient signs saying they fully understand the procedure that will take place. The nurse is involved usually by witnessing the patient’s signature on the consent document The nurse is responsible for making sure that the consent form contains all correct and necessary information, is properly signed and witnessed and is part of the patient’s medical record before the surgical procedure begins.
Read the following case study and complete the respective questions.
INFORMED CONSENT CASE STUDY
A patient going in for surgery for an abdominal incisional hernia has signed consent for the procedure. The doctor brings the signed consent form out to the nurses’ station and asks a nurse to sign the form and they do. The nurse goes into the room after the doctor leaves and is now questioned about the procedure by the patient.
a. What’s the appropriate steps the nurse needs to take?
The nurse will need to tell the patient to ask the doctor their questions. The nurse can help the patient gather all their questions, then go get the doctor