Legal and Ethical Responsibilities of Nursing

Vocabulary flashcards covering legal and ethical responsibilities, delegation, codes of ethics, and nursing practice standards.

Standards of Professional Practice

Specific nursing standards that establish expectations for professional behavior to protect the nurse, client, and facility, holding nurses accountable to a code of conduct.

State Nurse Practice Acts (NPAs)

State statutes executed by state boards of nursing that regulate nursing within each state or territory, set licensure conditions, define titles (RN, LPN, LVN, APN), and determine scope of practice.

State Board of Nursing (BON)

The regulatory body identified by a state legislature to enforce the regulations and rules established by the state Nurse Practice Act.

ACEN and CCNE

The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, which are the two national accreditation organizations for nursing schools.

QSEN Competencies

Six competencies established by the Quality and Safety Education for Nursing Institute: Patient-centered care, Teamwork and collaboration, Evidence-based practice (EBP), Quality improvement (QI), Safety, and Informatics.

NLN Integrating Competencies

Four essential competencies defined by the National League for Nursing for new graduates: Human flourishing, Nursing judgment, Professional identity, and Spirit of inquiry.

AACN BSN Essentials

A framework created by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing consisting of nine essentials outlining required curriculum content and competencies for prelicensure baccalaureate nursing graduates.

NAPNES

The National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Service, responsible for setting standards for educating LPNs/LVNs and advancing their clinical practice.

Code of Ethics Provisions 1 to 3

Provisions in the ANA Code of Ethics addressing fundamental values of the nursing profession, compassionate care, respect for client worth and dignity, advocacy, and protection of client safety.

Code of Ethics Provisions 4 to 6

Provisions in the ANA Code of Ethics addressing the nurse's duty, loyalty, authority, accountability, maintenance of competence, and obligation to preserve a safe practice environment.

Code of Ethics Provisions 7 to 9

Provisions in the ANA Code of Ethics addressing nursing responsibilities beyond direct client encounters, including research, developing practice standards, interprofessional collaboration, and maintaining professional integrity.

Autonomy

The ethical principle respecting an individual's right to self-determination and independent healthcare decision-making.

Beneficence

The ethical principle of taking positive actions to help others and promote client well-being.

Nonmaleficence

The ethical principle mandating healthcare providers to do no harm and avoid inflicting injury.

Veracity

The ethical obligation to tell the truth and refrain from deceiving clients.

Fidelity

The ethical principle of being faithful, keeping promises, and fulfilling professional commitments.

Justice

The ethical principle requiring fair, equitable, and equal distribution of healthcare resources and care.

Altruism

A professional value reflecting selfless concern for the welfare and well-being of clients and others.

Human Dignity

The principle that every person has inherent worth and should be respected equally, regardless of individual background.

Integrity

The quality of being honest and adhering to an appropriate code of ethics and accepted standards of practice.

Social Justice

Upholding moral, legal, and humanistic principles by assuring equal distribution of healthcare access and resources.

Ethical Dilemma

A situation where two or more clear moral principles apply but support mutually inconsistent courses of action.

Ethical Distress

The distress felt when a nurse knows the correct moral decision but personal or institutional factors make it difficult to follow.

Litigation

The formal legal process of bringing and trying a lawsuit.

Plaintiff

The individual or party bringing a lawsuit against another person.

Defendant

The individual or party accused of a crime or wrongdoing in a legal proceeding.

Civil Law

The body of law governing disputes between private individuals or between an individual and an organization.

Criminal Law

Statutes concerning state and federal criminal actions, requiring proof beyond a reasonable doubt to establish a violation.

Tort Law

The body of law covering civil wrongs or harm inflicted on a person or property by an act or failure to act.

Intentional Torts

Willful acts that violate another person's rights, including assault, battery, defamation of character, invasion of privacy, false imprisonment, and fraud.

Negligence

An unintentional tort defined as a breach of duty or failure to act in a manner consistent with what a reasonably prudent person would do under similar circumstances.

Malpractice

Professional negligence occurring when a nurse's care fails to meet professional standards, directly resulting in client harm.

Implied Consent

Consent inferred through a client's nonverbal actions or emergency situations rather than explicit verbal or written authorization.

Informed Consent

Expressed written agreement requiring healthcare providers to educate clients about procedure risks, benefits, and alternatives prior to treatment.

Good Samaritan Laws

Statutes protecting healthcare professionals from civil liability when providing voluntary emergency care outside work, provided they do not act with willful negligence.

Whistleblowing

The act of formally reporting illegal, unethical, or improper practices occurring within an organization.

Mandatory Reporting

Legislated duty compelling licensed nurses to formally report suspected abuse, neglect, or specific public health reportable diseases.

Sentinel Event

An unexpected healthcare event causing serious physical or psychological injury, or death, such as wrong-site surgery, infant abduction, or patient falls.

Incident Report

An agency's internal document capturing a factual, accurate account of an unexpected event, error, or injury.

Just Culture

An organizational environment that balances accountability with a non-punitive approach to human error, encouraging reporting and learning from near-misses and mistakes.

Five Rights of Delegation

The five essential criteria for appropriate clinical delegation: Right task, Right circumstance, Right person, Right directions and communications, and Right supervision and evaluation.

EMTALA

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, requiring hospital emergency departments to provide medical screening and stabilizing treatment to all individuals regardless of ability to pay.

PSDA

The Patient Self-Determination Act, requiring healthcare facilities to inform clients of their legal rights to make medical decisions and formulate advance directives.