Nursing Chapter 2: Legal/Ethical Aspects

Legal and Ethical Terms in Nursing

• Accountability: Responsibility for one's own actions in the nursing profession.
• Liability: Legal responsibility for harm caused to patients.
• Abandonment of Care: Wrongfully terminating patient care, which can lead to legal issues.

Legal Concepts

• Assault: Intentional threats to inflict bodily harm without actual contact.
• Battery: Unlawful physical contact without the informed consent of the patient.
• Competency: Legal presumption allowing adults to make their own decisions unless declared incompetent.

Defamation and Harm

• Defamation: Malicious spoken or written statements that harm a person's reputation.
• Harm: Injury inflicted on a person or their property, which can signal legal consequences.
• Libel: Written defamation that is communicated to third parties.

Malpractice and Negligence

• Malpractice: Failure to meet legal duty resulting in patient harm.
• Negligence: An act of omission or commission leading to another’s injury.

Tort Law

• Tort: A type of civil law involving wrongs against individuals, including negligence and defamation.
• Standards of Care: Guidelines that dictate required, permitted, or prohibited actions in nursing.
• Scope of Nursing Practice: Defines obligations and limitations in patient care.

Nursing Legislation

• Nurse Practice Acts: Laws defining the scope and limits of nursing practice.
• HIPPA (1996): Protects confidentiality of health information.

Patient Rights and Ethical Principles

• Doctrine of Informed Consent: The obligation to ensure patients make informed decisions about their care.
• Confidentiality: The ongoing duty to protect patient information, even post-discharge.
• Invasion of Privacy: The obligation to respect patient privacy and anonymity.

Reporting and Abuse

• Reporting Abuse: Mandated reporting of abuse despite privacy norms; nurses must be vigilant for signs of harm.
• Workplace Violence: Recognized as a form of abuse that may occur in healthcare settings.

Legal Protection Strategies

• Avoiding Lawsuits: Provide competent care, adhere to standards, maintain documentation, and understand Good Samaritan Law.
• Professional Liability Insurance: Essential for protection against negligence claims; types include claims-made and occurrence basis policies.
• Disciplinary Defense Insurance: Covers legal representation and related costs in case of disciplinary actions.

Nursing Ethics and Values

• Nursing Ethics: Establish the duties of nurses towards patients and the wider community.
• Values and Value Clarification: Reflect on personal beliefs and how they guide nursing practice.
• Ethical Dilemmas: Complex situations lacking clear rights or wrongs.

Fundamental Ethical Principles

• Respect for People: Fundamental principle emphasizing the value of individual autonomy.
• Autonomy: Encourages freedom of personal choice in healthcare.
• Beneficence: Obligation to do good for patients.
• Non-maleficence: Commitment to refrain from causing harm.
• Justice: Ensures fairness in care and treatment.

Codes of Ethics

• Adherence to ethical codes includes operating within the scope of practice, maintaining patient dignity, and providing non-discriminatory care.

Patient Advocacy

• Health Care Proxy: Designation of a person to make decisions on behalf of the patient.
• Do Not Resuscitate (DNR): A legal order for healthcare providers, made without direct patient involvement, specifying no resuscitation efforts.

This quiz covers key legal and ethical terms in nursing, including accountability, liability, and abandonment of care. Each flashcard presents a definition essential for understanding the responsibilities inherent in nursing practice. Test your knowledge and deepen your grasp of these important concepts.