New Recording 43

Nurse Practice Act Overview

• The nurse practice act varies by state, each having specific regulations for nursing practice.

• Purpose of the nurse practice act:

  • Define the scope of nursing practice

  • Protect patient safety and welfare

  • Ensure nurses are educated and competent to perform their duties.

Patient Advocacy in Nursing

• Primary duty of a nurse involves patient advocacy:

  • Safeguarding the well-being of patients.

  • Distinction between patient advocacy and privacy (HIPAA).

Negligence and Malpractice

• Negligence: occurs when a nurse deviates from the standard of care resulting in harm.

• Medical malpractice: a specific type of negligence by a healthcare professional during treatment.

  • Example scenario: nurse allows a patient to walk alone and the patient falls, leading to injury.

Defense Against Lawsuits

• Best defense against lawsuits for nurses:

  • Adhering to a code of professional and personal ethics.

  • Integrity as the highest value in nursing—doing the right thing when no one is watching.

Advanced Directives

• Purpose of advanced directives:

  • Document patient's wishes regarding medical treatment in end-of-life situations.

  • Facilitates decision-making regarding resuscitation or other medical interventions.

Patient Privacy and Media Use

• Violation of patient privacy occurs if patient information is disclosed, even without names.

• Other identifiers can lead to identification of patients, violating confidentiality.

• Patient information on social media or in other forms of communication is a potential HIPAA violation.

Case Study: Real-Life Nursing Experience

• Reflecting on an ICU nursing experience:

  • Challenge of managing a patient's death:

    • Required to explain the process to the family.

    • Responsibilities included managing patient care, family support, and legal documentation.

  • Emotional impact of representing nursing and healthcare in significant moments for families.

• The significance of nursing:

  • Nurses represent the entire healthcare team and provide comfort in critical moments for families.

  • Importance of delivering compassionate care during times of loss.