Nurse Ethics and Legal Issue

This document discusses various scenarios where nurses face ethical and legal issues. It covers topics such as maintaining patient confidentiality, respecting patient dignity, and providing quality care. The document also highlights the importance of following legal laws and codes of ethics in nursing practice.

Running head: NURSE ETHICS AND LEGAL ISSUE
NURSE ETHICS AND LEGAL ISSUE
Name of Student:
Name of University:
Author’s Note:

1NURSE ETHICS AND LEGAL ISSUE
Question no 1.
In the case scenario, it is seen that Antonio is having ulcerated sores in his right leg is assisted by
a home health nurse, Dan. Dan identified that his leg ulcer is not improving and he recommended
Antonio to visit a physician; however; he was not in agreement to make an appointment to see a
doctor. Dan went for a vacation for two weeks and instructed him to take care of his ulcer and
took a picture of the sore and send to his colleagues. In this situation, initially, I would make him
understand about the harm concerned with his leg ulcer if he does not visit a physician.
Negligence of duty and ordinary procedure will create damage to the patient, which is against the
ethics and value of nurse (Pesut et al., 2019). I know that if I went on vacation, it would worsen
the condition of the patient as he himself is not willing to take any care for his illness. It was not
a responsibility to care for him and maintain the ethics of beneficence and non-maleficence
(Kotaska, 2017). Therefore, I would cancel my vacation as I know if I hand over the case of
Antonio to other nursing staffs, it can pose a problem to the patient no one knew about his case
history. As per the value and ethics of the nurse, I would take him to the doctor for his leg ulcer
so that he can get better medication for faster recovery. I would encourage him towards
independence by making him understand the need for it for better healing (Nguyen et al., 2016).
Question no 2.
As seen in the case scenario, Donna's five-year-old son is having a reoccurring rash on his
abdomen and back, which is itchy and painful. He wants to know whether his friend, who is a
nurse for the last ten years, can recommend any creams or medication that may help to treat his
son's disease. In this situation, I would not prescribe any cream and medication by just
visualising the symptom of skin problems. The nurse should always practice according to the

2NURSE ETHICS AND LEGAL ISSUE
legal law in the code of ethics for the registered nurse. According to the Canadian Nurse
Association, the nurse does not have the licence to prescribe medicine to the patients (Sofronas,
Wright & Carnevale, 2018). As per the Law of Medication in Canada, the nurse is authorised to
give education and care to the patients, but prescribing the drug is not permitted. Only the
nursing practitioner who has acquired masters or doctorate degree are allowed to prescribe
medicine (Rodney & Varcoe, 2016). In spite of recommending medication, I would instead
record his medical history, current symptoms and allergic reactions and in consultation with the
doctor, I will recommend proper medicine for his recovery. The legal standard of care reflects
that to provide a guideline about what a patient should do in the state of illness (Cho et al., 2016).
Hence, I will suggest Donna visit a skin specialist for his son treatment rather than taking any
medicine. Additionally, according to clinical nursing practice, I will educate Donna regarding
ways to manage his son's skin reaction. As per the ethics, legalities and value in the nursing field,
it is my duty to give all the relevant information about the illness and convey the truth to care
seekers.
Question no 3.
In the case study, Betty is a practical nurse who wrote about his terrible experience with the
patient during her shift in the Facebook page using some derogatory language. For his such
mischievous behaviour, she was reported to CLPNA. The major reason behind being reported is
that she has violated the principle of ethical and legal issues and used offensive language for
patients. Furthermore, she has not maintained the confidentiality and privacy of patient’s
information. According to the ethics and values in the clinical nursing practice, it is the duty of
the nurse to maintain patient dignity and give respect to their decisions. The nurse is responsible
to safeguard the patient's right to privacy and give respect to their dignity and uniqueness

3NURSE ETHICS AND LEGAL ISSUE
(Hadjistavropoulos et al., 2016). Nurses are not authorised to use any abusive language for the
patient. Any invasion of privacy and confidentiality are of critical legal and medical concern
(Snelling, 2016). Betty has not shown any respect for the patient and did not handle the case of
the patient efficiently. Rather she disclosed all the personal information about the patients and
used abusive language, which is forbidden in the law of bioethics in nursing. For her
unprofessional behaviour and malpractice, she was reported to the CLPNA.
Question no 4.
In the case study, Ms Shaker is undergoing a chronic medical condition, and blood transfusion is
the part of her treatment. The nurse name Samantha, who was assigned to care of her have some
personal belief and value in connection with the administration of the blood product which is not
allowing her to perform her duty with full efficiency. In such a situation, Samantha should
convey the linked information to the higher authority and should explain her belief and value
regarding blood transfusion. She should request to assign a new nurse for the care of Ms Shaker,
who can administer a blood transfusion to her. According to the clinical nursing practice, patient
care is of high priority for a nurse; therefore, just because of personal belief and value, care of
the patient should be hampered. To give proper care to the patient is the fundamental and legal
aspect of nursing. Hence, legally, she was obligated to provide better treatment, which is vital for
her survival irrespective of any personal beliefs (Westrick, 2017). For a professional nurse, to
maintain the standard of care is necessary for the betterment of the patient. Samantha being a
nurse it is her legal right to give quality care to the patient. According to the legal law, the nurse
is not required to show negligence in the care of the patient that can cause harm to the patients
(Grant, 2017).

4NURSE ETHICS AND LEGAL ISSUE
Reference
Cho, S. H., Lee, J. Y., June, K. J., Hong, K. J., & Kim, Y. (2016). Nurse staffing levels and
proportion of hospitals and clinics meeting the legal standard for nurse staffing for 1996~
2013. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration, 22(3), 209-219.
Grant, P. D. (2017). Nursing Malpractice/Negligence and Liability. Law for Nurse Leaders, 51.
Hadjistavropoulos, T., Malloy, D. C., Douaud, P., & Smythe, W. E. (2016). Ethical orientation,
functional linguistics, and the codes of ethics of the Canadian Nurses Association and the
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Nguyen, T., Henderson, D., Stewart, D., Hlyva, O., Punthakee, Z., & Gorter, J. W. (2016). You
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Pesut, B., Greig, M., Thorne, S., Storch, J., Burgess, M., Tishelman, C., ... & Janke, R. (2019).
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Sofronas, M., Wright, D. K., & Carnevale, F. A. (2018). Personhood: An evolutionary concept
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