Overview of the case study Scenario 2022

Running head: NURSING
Nursing
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author’s note

1NURSING
Introduction:
Maintaining patient safety and high quality of care is an important care priority in
nursing. However, maintaining legal and ethical aspects of care is vital to promote safety of
patient too. Moral value emphasizes on the protection of humanity and dignity of patient. In
addition, nurses are bound to comply with many legal obligations while providing care. Hence,
as patient safety is a multidimensional area, focussing on legal and ethical imperatives of care is
important (Kadivar et al., 2017). This essay looks at the case scenario of Mavis to explore legal
and ethical concerns for nurse while providing care to patients. All possible actions to be taken
based on patient situation and the implications of those actions will be discussed based on
consideration of ethical principles, legal obligations and nursing standards of care.
Overview of the case study scenario
The case study is about Mavis, a 70 year old retired nurse who has undergone a
laparotomy following an acute bowel obstruction. Her recovery was uneventful in the first post
op. However, in the morning, her vital signs altered evidenced by heart rate of 92 bpm, blood
pressure of 105/70 and temperature of 38.0 C. During nursing assessment, she was also found to
be confused, disoriented and anxious. Her condition has significantly changed compared to the
last assessment few hours ago. Current Mavis has turned aggressive towards nurse and is willing
to start work. The issue that arises is that when nurse comes back to the shift coordinator after
informing about Mavis condition, she found that Mavis is not in the room. She was found in the
visitor’s room with her gown open and dressings removed from the wound site. Mavis has also
smeared faeces across her abdomen and surgical wounds. When the nurse attempted to take the

2NURSING
patient to the bathroom, then also she was yelling at the nurse and wanted to go home so that she
could go to work.
Ethical and legal concerns in the case study:
There are many issues or challenges that the nurse need to confront while handling
Mavis. Firstly, dealing with her aggressive behaviour would be a challenge as this could increase
safety risk both for patient and the nurse. In addition, the scenario also presents conflict in
relation to patient autonomy and beneficence. The ethical principle of autonomy focuses on
allowing or enable patient to take control over their health and taking their own decisions on
treatment and care. It involves discussion around truth telling, fidelity and confidentiality.
However, the vulnerability of patient autonomy is understood from the fact that although this
right protects patient from unwanted treatment, but it also expose patients to risk of harm when
they deny a treatment which is immediately needed for them (Ubel, Scherr & Fagerlin, 2017).
Similar issue is seen in the case scenario too. Mavis is hell bent on going to work. If the nurses
respect her wishes, it will preserve the ethical rights of patient autonomy. However, this will
seriously affect beneficence of patient as currently her condition has deteriorated and she is in
urgent need of medical attention. Issues related to patient dignity and clinical safety issue is also
present as Mavis has removed her dressing. Her current action could lead to risk of infection and
delay in post operative recovery. This essay will review possible actions or inactions from a legal
and ethical perspective.
Possible actions or inactions and its implications:
The first possible course of action that the nurse can take to resolve aggressive behaviour
is to allow her to go home. This action is relevant with patient’s personal wish and the ethical