You are on an Afternoon Shift and While Speaking to a Resident Named Mary Notice: Law and Ethics for Nursing Assignment, NUS, Singapore

Inquiry for Professional Practice (NURSING)

Assessment 2

Decision-Making Case Study Guidelines

The purpose of this assessment is to identify the principles of professional nursing practice, outline the ethical and legal frameworks for professional practice, and apply them to a complex scenario in order to establish an ethically and legally sound decision. Consider the legal, ethical, and professional issues and decide the best course of action to resolve the situation that is presented in the case scenario provided. This assessment must demonstrate effective description and application of relevant and current Singapore and Australian legislation, Professional and NSQHS Standards, and ethical principles.

CASE STUDY

You are on an afternoon shift and while speaking to a resident named Mary notice that she has to bruise on her left arm.

Mary says she is clumsy and banged into the wall when walking to the dining room. She has no history of confusion and can walk well with a Zimmer frame.

A few days later in the handover, another night nurse reports that Mary has become incontinent over-night for the last 3 nights and they are now using incontinence pads.

The next shift you notice bruising around both of Mary’s wrists. On questioning, Mary becomes teary and says she is frightened of a particular night nurse who is very impatient with her when walking her to the toilet. Mary says the nurse drags her rather than allows her to walk with the Zimmer frame and is rough with her. Mary is so frightened she does not want to call for help in the night and has become incontinent.

Mary does not want to cause a fuss, she is concerned she may be treated worse by the night nurse. She has asked you not to say anything.

Discuss your ethical, legal and professional responsibilities as a Registered Nurse using the framework below, and decide the best course of action to resolve this situation.

Decision-Making Case Study Guidelines

INTRODUCTION

• clearly describe the purpose of the paper
• introduce the structure of the essay

IDENTIFY THE FACTS

Legal, Ethical, Medical and Social

• DO NOT summarise the case study
• separate and identify the main medical, social, legal and ethical issues relevant to this case study

CONSENT

•  does the patient have decision-making capacity?
• define and apply the legal issue of consent and relevant legislation

LEGAL ISSUES

• what are the other legal issues raised by this situation?
• identify, describe and apply the other legal issues and relevant legislation

ETHICAL ISSUES

• what are the ethical issues raised by this situation?

Beneficence, Non-maleficence, Autonomy, Justice

• describe and apply the 4 fundamental ethical principles
• identify 2 sets of conflicts between the ethical principles

PROFESSIONAL ISSUES

• what are the professional issues raised by this situation?

Code of Conduct, Code of Ethics, RN Standards for Practice, NSQHS Standards and any other relevant Health Department Standards

• identify, describe and apply specific elements of each of the standards to this situation
• identify the importance of documentation and evaluation

CONCLUSION

• in view of the legal, ethical, and professional issues, what do you feel would be the best course of action to resolve this situation?
• clearly state what action the student nurse should take
• justify the proposed course of action using law, ethics and professional standards