FON - Legal, Ethical, and Healthcare Systems Issues (Exam 3)

What are the levels of healthcare?

1. preventative

2. primary

3. secondary

4. tertiary

5. restorative

6. continuing

What is primary care?

1. first point of contact

2. health promotion

3. early detection

4. routine care

5. generalists

What is secondary care?

Care provided to a patient who has been referred to the specialist by a primary care physician.

T or F:
Secondary care usually has to do with treating a certain body system

True

What is tertiary care?

acute care

Where does tertiary care occur?

1. hospitals

2. intensive care

3. surgeons

4. psychiatric facility

What is restorative care?

Rehabilitation. Goal is to help individuals regain maximal functional status and enhance quality of life through promotion of independence and selfcare

What is continuing care?

1. long term care

2. assisted living

3. hospice

4. adult day care

5. respite care

What is respite care?

care for individuals who take care of another individual

What does the nurse practice act do?

1. licenses all RNs in the state

2. investigates, suspends, or revokes licenses

What are violations of the Florida nurse practice act?

1. being impaired by drugs or alc while working

2. stealing from a client/pt

3. falsifying records

4. involvement in criminal conduct

5. failure to provide adequate treatment

6. abusing the pt emotionally, physically, or mentally

7. nurse provides care that APRN or physician should do

What is the Good Samaritan Law?

Protects healthcare providers who give aid in an emergency situation while off duty

What are the rules of the good samaritan law?

1. care must be within scope of practice

2. care cannot be abandoned once started, stay with pt

T or F:
Public health laws dictate that certain diseases must be reported to the CDC.

True

What are the components of the patient self-determination act?

1. living wills

2. durable power of attorney

3. health care proxy

4. DNR/AND

What does AND stand for?

allow natural death

What must be documented when a pt wants a DNR?

that the provider has met with the individual and the family

What does it mean if the pt has no DNR/AND on chart?

they are a full code

Nurses are not responsible for explaining procedures to the patients.

True, provider/surgeons/docs only

T or F:
Nurses can act as a witness while the pt signs general consent.

True

An informed consent agreement can only be signed after the pt has been educated/informed of...?

1. risks

2. benefits

3. alternatives

4. Consequences of refusal

How do we obtain consent from a pt who is unconsious?

we must get consent from the individual that is legally authorized to give it on their behalf

What is the nurses responsibility when acting as a witness to the signature?

-we ensure....?

1. that the pt has given consent voluntarily

2. pt understands what is to be done

3. the signature is authentic

4. pt appears competent

What is the uniform anatomical gift act?

the right of someone 18 years of age or older to be an organ donor

What is an unintentional tort?

1. an act that is unintentional but causes injury

2. negligence

3. malpractive

What us a quasi-intentional tort?

1. the intent is lacking but a volitional action and direct causations occur

2. slander, libel

3. invasion of privacy

What is an intentional tort?

1. a deliberate act that violates another's rights

2. battery, assault

3. false imprisonment

What is a tort?

an act or omission that causes legally cognizable harm to the pt or property

What must be true to report negligence/malpractice?

1. the nurse owed a duty to the pt

2. nurse did not carry out the duty or broke it

3. pt was injured

4. damages are allowed under state law to "make the pt whole"

T or F:

All four elements must be true to be considered malpractice/negligence.

True

What is risk management?

A system of ensuring appropriate nursing care that attempts to identify potential hazards and eliminate them before harm occurs

What are the steps involved in risk management?

1. Identify possible risks

2. Analyze risks

3. Act to reduce risks

4. Evaluate steps taken

What are Incident reports or Occurrence reports?

tools used by risk management

What is important to remember about incident reports or occurrence reports?

they are NEVER a part of the pts chart

What does an incidence report do?

1. serves as a database for further investigation

2. alerts risk management to potential claim situation

What is important to remember about completing an incident report?

1. they are confidential

2. most agencies have specific guidelines on how to complete

3. they are completed by the person who witnessed the event

What is ethics?

the study of conduct and character

What are values?

Personal beliefs about the worth of a given idea, attitude, custom, or object that set standards that influence behavior.

What are the basic principals in health ethics?

1. autonomy

2. beneficence

3. nonmaleficence

4. justice

5. fidelity

What is autonomy in health ethics?

ability to make voluntary choices

What is beneficence in health ethics?

taking positive actions to do good and help others

What us nonmaleficence in health ethics?

avoidance of harm or hurt

What is justice in health ethics?

fairness and care for all pts equally

What is fidelity in health ethics?

being loyal, agreeing to keep promises

What is the professional nursing code of ethics?

A set of guiding principles that all members of a profession accept

What are the parts of the nursing code of ethics?

1. advocacy

2. responsibility

3. accountability

4. confidentiality

What does advocacy mean?

helping/supporting an individual to speak up and express their views.

What does responsibility mean?

A duty to care for or having control over something or someone

What does accountability mean?

Being responsible for one's own actions

What does confidentiality mean?

information about the patient must remain private and can be shared ONLY with other members of the patients health care team.