Reflection on Ethical and Legal Experiences during Practical Placement at an Urban Hospital Facility

Driscoll’s Reflective Framework
Driscoll’s Reflective Framework
Introduction
Healthcare is an important segment of any society. Notably, the healthcare sector gets
regulated through sets of ethical and legal requirements that dictate the roles of healthcare
professionals. As a nurse, there is a threshold expected of one to achieve through the lenses of
ethical and legal requirements. In this paper, I would be keen to reflect on my ethical and legal
experiences during my practical placement at an Urban hospital facility. The reflection would be
done as stipulated in the Driscoll’s Reflective model. The complex clinical scenario I got to
experience that would form the basis of this reflection would be about the management of sharps.
‘What’
As a nursing student, I am fully aware of the significance of remaining compliant to
nursing ethics and legal requirements. I have recently commenced my practical placement, and
during the PEP, I was assigned to work under a registered nurse. Despite the in-depth experience
of the Supervisor, I have always been privy to the fact that ethical and legal dilemmas associate
healthcare practice. Working under a supervisor, one is obliged to follow all their guidance and
advice to the latter (Henderson et al., 2012). On this particular situation, accompanied by my
supervisor, I got instructed to give a patient an injection. I usually get intimidated by very close
supervision, especially from a strict supervisor whom I was assigned. Upon completion of the
injection, I realized there was no kidney dish by the bedside for disposal of the needle.
At the back of my mind, I was grappling with many issues. First was the fact that my
tutor and lecturer had emphasized on the proper handling of sharps while practising. They had
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Driscoll’s Reflective Framework
stipulated that one should dispose a sharp like a needle to a kidney dish and then dispose to a
designated sharps container. I was well aware of the risks of recapping and the fact that my
supervisor was around made the feeling even worse. It occurred that there was no kidney dish by
the bedside. Also, I was not aware of the location of the closest sharps container. I was shaking
and felt undecided on what to do for the first time. Suddenly, the supervisor instructed that I
should recap the needle. This request from my supervisor was literally against what I was taught
and believed in as a nursing student. However, the insistence of the supervisor prompted me to
recap the needle. Given the panic, I, unfortunately, prickled my finger using the needle.
Subsequently, in an arrogant manner, the supervisor demanded the patient for a blood sample to
confirm the rare I had contracted from the needle accident.
I realized the negligence of the supervisor and his disregard for the ethical code of
conduct and safe practice as stipulated within the regulations. Moreover, the supervisor insulted
me during the ordeal, which to me was extremely unethical. I have always upheld the need for
professionalism in the practice environment. Insulting each other is disrespectful and
unwarranted in the practice environment. I felt my rights during the practical placement were
violated against the laws. Moreover, it was critical because my health was in question. I could
have contracted a rare infection from the patient. On the other hand, I felt the dignity and
independence of the patient were violated. It is unethical to demand a sample for laboratory
diagnosis from a patient without requesting and explaining for the provision of consent. I felt the
patient was harassed and devalued by the rude demand of the supervisor who appeared to
disregard all the ethical and legal codes of nursing practice.
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Driscoll’s Reflective Framework
‘So What’
As a nurse, I believe in the significance of the ethical codes of conduct in regards to
protecting the rights of patients and other professionals as well as self against injuries. The
supervisor was violating the Australian regulations on the handling of sharps through his
behaviour. Fortunately, the patient did not have any serious infectious pathogen that would have
placed my health at risk. I had to confirm from other senior colleagues at the facility to affirm the
behaviour of my supervisor. To my surprise, it was clear that the supervisor had a record of
unethical behaviour that violated the existing Australian ethical and legal requirements of
practising nurses. From the legal perspective, he acted in illegality by provoking me to injury.
This is because the outcome of his persistence about recapping the needle would be foreseeable
and likely to endanger my life.
Under the ensuing circumstances, I had to refer back to the existing regulations as
embodied in Australia under the Code of Ethics for Nurses in Australia and the Nursing
Competency Standards for Practicing Nurses in Australia. I strongly believed these regulations
guide nursing practice in both the private and public sectors in Australia adequately and provide
the thresholds and benchmark for practice. My findings concurred with my judgment that the
supervisor had conducted himself and behaved contrary to the ethical codes of conduct and
professional nursing practice. The supervisor disregarded my perspective and did not inquire
about my knowledge of sharps management. Instead, they went ahead to impose their wrong
perspective on me against my wish leading to the unintended injury and exposure. As such, it
was clear the supervisor did not respect my autonomy and nursing practice principles
(Waubrafoundation.org.au, 2019).
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