Ethics, Law, and Delegation in Nursing Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering ethical concepts, legal terminology, statutory laws, and delegation principles in nursing practice.

Values

Personal beliefs regarding something's worth.

Ethics

Values that influence personal decisions and behavior.

Ethical dilemma

A situation requiring a choice between two opposing alternatives.

Patient Care Partnership (PCP)

Outlines the expectations, rights, and responsibilities of patients during hospital stays.

Do Not Attempt to Resuscitate Orders (DNAR)

A written order issued by a health-care provider in terminal stages of disease specifying that CPR should not be initiated.

Ethics committees

Groups that develop facility policies and procedures for ethical issues, focus on patient rights, and advise on difficult medical decisions.

Constitutional Law

Law that protects fundamental constitutional rights, such as the Bill of Rights.

Statutory Law

Includes federal, state, and local laws, such as Nurse Practice Acts.

Case or Judicial Law

Law consisting of written decisions made in response to court cases.

Criminal Law

Laws designed to protect public safety and society as a whole.

Civil Law

Laws governing personal individual rights guaranteed by federal law.

Abandonment of patient

Deserting, forsaking, or wrongfully terminating care of a patient without appropriate nursing replacement.

Advance directive

Written statement outlining medical care wishes in the event of incapacitation, including proxy directives (such as durable power of attorney) and instructional directives (such as living wills).

Appeal

Requesting a higher court to confirm or reverse a court decision.

Assault

Purposely threatening physical harm.

Battery

Touching an individual without consent.

Competency

Legal qualification to make personal decisions.

Consent

Permission granted generally in written form.

Controlled substances

Regulated drugs with abuse potential, such as narcotics.

Damages

Financial awards given to a plaintiff upon proof of injury by a defendant.

Defendant

The party accused of breaking civil or criminal law.

Durable medical power of attorney

Written legal designation assigning medical decision-making authority to another person.

Emancipated minor

Legal adult status for an individual younger than age 18 years due to living independently, military service, marriage, or parenthood.

Liability

Legal responsibility for one's own actions.

Libel

Written false statements intended to cause public harm.

Malpractice

Harm caused by failing to meet reasonable standards of care or skill.

Negligence

Failure to provide care that a peer of equal education and locale would provide.

Plaintiff

The party accusing another of a law violation.

Statute

Written law.

Tort

Violation of civil law involving a wrong against an individual or property.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)

Federal law enforcing protected health information (PHI) confidentiality through Privacy Rules (national protection standards) and Security Rules (electronic health record safeguards).

Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act (2009)

Legislation that mandated EHR adoption by 2015 and established the Breach Notification Rule requiring written notice of unauthorized PHI access.

Nurse Practice Acts (NPA)

State statutes defining scope of practice, administered and enforced by state Boards of Nursing.

Boards of Nursing

State bodies that regulate practice and education, grant licenses, and enforce disciplinary actions.

National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)

Organization that protects public health, safety, and welfare, facilitating licensure through NCLEX™.

Mandatory Reporting Laws

Statutes requiring nurses to report disease outbreaks, child abuse, elder abuse, and abuse of disabled individuals.

Good Samaritan Law

Law providing civil legal immunity to voluntary emergency caregivers at accident sites; does not apply to health-care facility staff or paid emergency responders.

Tort Law

The primary area of civil law affecting nursing practice that addresses claims of injury or harm caused by another party's actions.

False Imprisonment

Unlawful detention or restraint of a patient using restraint devices.

Sexual Harassment

Unwanted sexual advances, offensive sex-based remarks, or continuous unwelcome actions.

Patient Health Record

Legal communication document providing data on patient health status.

Informed Consent

Voluntary consent for treatment given by a competent, fully informed patient.

Incident Report

Documentation completed following an accident or unusual occurrence.

Accountability

Being responsible for personal actions, acknowledging skill limitations, preventing fatigue, and refusing to abandon assignments.

Professional Boundaries

Maintaining proper distance by avoiding physical, sexual, financial, or social relationships with patients or their families.

NCSBN Five Rights of Delegation

The framework consisting of the right task, under the right circumstances, to the right person, with the right directions and communication, and under the right supervision and evaluation.

Non-Delegable Responsibilities

Nursing functions requiring judgment, critical decision-making, or care of unstable patients (unless allowed within delegatee scope under state NPA).