Nursing Role and Responsibilities: Case Studies and Legislative Review

This report delves into the critical roles and responsibilities of nurses within the healthcare system, emphasizing the importance of adhering to ethical and legal standards. It examines key legislation, such as the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 and the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, highlighting their impact on nursing practice. The report presents two case studies: the first focuses on a nurse's failure to follow infection control procedures, leading to potential patient harm; the second involves a student nurse's substance abuse. These cases are analyzed in the context of relevant legislation and ethical codes, such as the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia's code of ethics, illustrating the consequences of non-compliance. The report reflects on personal experiences and provides insights into the importance of hand hygiene, adherence to professional standards, and the implications of substance abuse in nursing. The conclusion underscores the nurse's responsibility to provide competent care, prioritize patient safety, and adhere to legal and ethical guidelines to maintain professional integrity and ensure positive patient outcomes. The report also discusses the role of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Health Ombudsman in regulating nursing practice and addressing misconduct.

Running head: NURSING ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
NURSING ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Name of Student:
Name of University:
Author’s Note:

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Introduction
A good healthcare sector work as per the practice of the health care professionals and
nurses with the goal to provide quality care to the patient. The student nurse who are aspiring to
get registered, and other registered nurse needs to work according to the moral and legal law
formulated. The paper aims to discuss about the role of the nurse and various legislative law
which ensure the quality of care. The paper will highlight two case scenario which deals with
safety measures in nursing practice.
Understanding of the key legislation
The case study highlights the unhealthy practice that is being practiced by the nurse in the
health care sector, which can lead to the poor health outcome of the patient. It is noted that the
nurses did not perform hand hygiene before and after assessing the patient which is violation of
the infection control procedure of the hospital. It can increase the chance of cross-contamination
from the patient and can lead to an incidence of infection. From the study of Epstein and Turner
(2015), it can be said that healthy practice by the nurse is of prime importance for the health of
the patient, which is directly related to the reputation of the hospital. It is inferred from the case
study that nurses are not following the standards of NSQHS of infection control, which highlight
that importance of hand hygiene in control of infection. According to the code of ethics of
nursing, nurses are required to maintain the safety standard in their practice and offer quality
care to the patient for better health (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia 2018). According
to Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 (Cth), nurses are responsible for
giving effective care to the patient by following the standard norms of the hospitals (Australian
Health Practitioner Regulation Agency 2018). However, the nurse was accountable for the

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infection control procedure. According to the Work Health and safety act (2011), if the
registered nurse found to be guilty of the misconduct in their practice area, they shall be liable
for legal obligation and lead to suspension of their registration. Australian Health Practitioner
Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has also impeached the nurse for not maintaining hygiene in
practice. Thus, it reviewed from the case study, that nurse is not following the rule and
legislative law, which can put their career into trouble. For the nurse who is not following the
infection control procedure, can pose the risk of infection to both patient and nearby staffs, and
the nurse has violated the principle of non-maleficence and beneficence.
Reflection
From the past personal experience which has observed a similar case can be helpful to
explain the future situation concerning the matter of the unhealthy practice of the nurse. It was
during the clinical practice, which involved the case where the patient was suffering from a skin
infection. Two nurses was assigned to take of the patient under the supervision of the senior
nurse. The nurse was ignorant and unaware of the healthy practice associated with hand hygiene.
They neither performed hand hygiene nor sanitize the hand by alcohol. As the consequence of
such practice, the two nurses acquired the infection from the patient, which was also spread to
the other staffs who worked with them. Upon investigation, it was found that nurse knew about
the infection control standard, but was not accountable toward their duty of care, they were
punished for their unethical act and suspended for five years. This experience gives insight into
the severe consequence to the health and future career. Thus, based on the learning from
experience, it can be inferred the nurse who did not perform the hand hygiene and follow the
nursing practice can lead to cross-contamination and lethal health consequence to themselves and
other co-workers. Additionally, they shall also be questioned for their ignorance behavior in

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front of the health legislation and can lead to suspension from nursing practice. According to the
nursing and midwifery board of Australia, South Australian Health Practitioner’s Tribunal
and the Health Ombudsman act 2013 (QLD) section 72 has suspended the nurse for not
following the ICN code of ethics (Health ombudsman bill 2013). Thus the nurse must take into
account the legislative law for a better and secure future. As it is also reported in the Queensland
legislation referring to health ombudsman act (2013) that nurse has to work as per the code of
ethics and standard of a hospital with an objective to give better care to the patient.
Conclusion
Thus from the above discussion, it can be concluded that nurse has the sole responsibility
to give competent care to the patient, so they need to work as per the law and standards
formulated by the health administration and legislations. The nurse should give priority to the
health of the patient and should avoid any such practice which can pose harm to their life. They
should follow the nursing ethical principle in their practice which focuses to do well to the
patient and avoid any such undertaking which can harm the health of the patient. Moreover, it
should also be added that unhealthy practice by the nurse can also downgrade their future and
career as it can lead to a suspension for their registration.
Case study 2.
Nursing is considered as the most critical profession as they are responsible for giving effective
care to the patient who is struggling with the various health complication. However, there are
absolute rule and norms by which nurse cannot practice in the situation when they have
consumed alcohol or drugs. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency has
highlighted that nurse are required to refrain from intake of drug or alcohol in their practice both

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actively and inactively as it can have an adverse effect on the health of the patient (Australian
Health Practitioner Regulation Agency 2018). The law has also added drug screening protocol
where the health care professionals who are associated with the drug abuse shall be provided
with advice and education for their better future. However, if the practice is continued to be
observed according to the health ombudsman act (2013), their registration shall be canceled. It
is evident from the case study that some of the nursing students is fidgeting and on interrogation
by the facilitator they accepted that they had consumed drugs. This the purely the case of
violation of ethical and professional code. In Australia, there is law formulated to limit the use of
alcohol and drugs in the nursing profession. According to the Controlled Substance Act 1984,
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law 2009 has demonstrated that health care
professionals should not get involved in any such activities which can pose harm to the patient.
Hence, they need to abstain from the use of a drug in a health care setting with the objective of
development of the quality and effective care for the patient (Health Practitioner Regulation
National Law 2009). Thus, it can be said that the case has provided a detailed idea of the nursing
profession, which would help them to get involved in the adverse case for misconduct. Thus,
nurses need to follow as per the rules, regulation, and standard for a better career.
Reflection
A similar situation was met with a nurse who was found to be in condition of the
unconscious state of mind during the practice. The nurse was working in surgical ward and was
assigned to monitor the vital signs of the patient. She did respond but was showing some clumsy
and dizziness in her behavior. She was not able not to take the blood pressures and other signs.
The doctor immediately asked her to go out of the surgical ward. Upon investigation, it was
found that she has taken drugs. The situation was communicated to the head administration, and

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her nursing license was canceled. The nurse was not accountable for her duty of care and
violated the nursing code of ethics and standards. The experience has highlighted the nursing
role and responsibilities towards the patient.
From the past experience, it can be inferred that the student nurse is liable for the legal
obligation for the misconduct of her practice. As she has found to be taken drug, the health
administration can either canceled her license or suspend her for a few periods of time. However,
it is the case of the student nurse, and she can be provided with effective training and education
for better future and safety of the patient. Moreover, it can also be inferred from the past
experience that, the future of the student nurse is at risk if any legal action is taken against her.
From the study of Clough et al. (2017), it is observed that student nurse is at the stage of
learning and if they are found to be violating any code of ethics and safety standard, proving
effective education can be beneficial for their nursing practice. However, as per the case study,
the student nurse was not involved in the care of the patient; she can be investigated and put on
training to get rid of drug abuse. The future of the student nurse can be improved if she works
under the supervision of any senior nurse who can guide her and make accustom with the nursing
standards and principle.
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it can be said that nurse is responsible to provided effective
care to the patient and should not adopt any unhealthy practice like drug addiction which can
pose harm to the health of the patient. The case study analysis has helped to understand the laws
and regulation implemented for the nurse for better practice related to prevention of substance
abuse. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and Health Practitioner

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Regulation National Law 2009 are the two law which helps to control the unethical practice by
the nurse and ensure quality care has been provided by the nurse to the patient. Thus, the case
study has pose implication for both the health care professionals and nurses that would help them
to avoid any adverse condition in their practice. Further, it can also be said that student nurse
shall be given effective education about the nursing practice, evidence-based practice, and
information about the law and regulation.

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Reference
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. 2018 Australian Health Practitioner
Regulation Agency - Court and Tribunal Decisions. [online] Ahpra.gov.au. Available at:
https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Publications/Tribunal-Decisions.aspx
Clough, A.R. and Bird, K., 2015. The implementation and development of complex alcohol
control policies in indigenous communities in Queensland (Australia). International Journal of
Drug Policy, 26(4), pp.345-351.
Epstein, B. and Turner, M., 2015. The nursing code of ethics: Its value, its history. OJIN: The
Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 20(2), pp.1-10.
Health ombudsman bill, 2013 available at https://cabinet.qld.gov.au/documents/2013/Jun/Health
%20Ombuds%20Bill/Attachments/ExNotes.pdf
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law., 2009 Health Practitioner Regulation National
Law Act 2009 Reprinted as in force on 1 July 2010 [online] Health Practitioner Regulation
National Law. Available at: https://www.ahpra.gov.au/documents/default.aspx?
record=WD10%2F1563&dbid=AP&chksum=b1YsKvtKyhHdnDKio5ERFA%3D%3D
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia., 2018 Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia -
Professional standards. [online] Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au. Available at:
https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Professional-
standards.aspx
Work Health and Safety Act, (2011) available at
https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/pdf/inforce/current/act-2011-018