Ethical and Legal Considerations in Nursing Practice

Vocabulary flashcards covering nursing ethical principles, legal mandates, consent forms, delegation guidelines, and workplace considerations based on the lecture material.

Autonomy

An ethical principle represented by the phrase 'Their choice,' referring to respecting a client's right to make their own healthcare decisions.

Beneficence

An ethical principle represented by the phrase 'Do good,' directing healthcare providers to act in the best interest of the client.

Nonmaleficence

An ethical principle represented by the phrase 'Do no harm,' requiring nurses to avoid causing injury or harm to patients.

Veracity

An ethical principle represented by the phrase 'Tell the truth,' requiring honesty and transparency with clients.

Fidelity

An ethical principle represented by the phrase 'Keep your word,' involving loyalty, keeping promises, and maintaining trust.

Justice

An ethical principle represented by the phrase 'Fair for all,' ensuring fair and equal treatment and resource distribution across clients.

Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)

A federal law stipulating that the Emergency Department (ED) cannot turn away clients for being under- or uninsured, or for their inability to pay.

Informed Consent

A legal process summarized as 'I understand and I agree,' in which a client is provided with the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a procedure or treatment.

Implied Consent

Consent inferred through conduct, summarized as 'My actions show that I agree.'

Sentinel Events

Unexpected occurrences involving death or serious physical or psychological injury, categorized into anesthesia, care management, criminal, environmental, product/device, protection, suicide, and surgical/invasive procedure events.

Nurse Fatigue

A condition caused by long shifts, high client loads, and nursing shortages; manifests as physical and psychological exhaustion, leading to negative health outcomes for nurses and increased risk of errors for clients.

Five Rights of Delegation

The essential legal and professional criteria for delegation: Right Task, Right Circumstance, Right Person, Right Direction and Communication, and Right Supervision and Evaluation.

Delegation to the Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP)

Delegated tasks summarized by the 3 F's: Feeding, Fetching, and Fundamentals of daily care (e.g., ADLs, vital signs on stable patients, daily weights, repositioning).