Decision Making Framework: Analysis of a Nursing Scenario

This report provides an analysis of a nursing scenario through the lens of a decision-making framework. It examines a case where an enrolled nurse administered paracetamol, highlighting the importance of consulting a registered nurse before administering medication. The report discusses the roles and responsibilities of enrolled and registered nurses, emphasizing the scope of practice and the need for adherence to established protocols. It explores the framework's application, referencing relevant literature and the National Framework for Decision Making. The report concludes that the registered nurse's reprimand was appropriate, emphasizing the importance of following established decision-making processes to ensure patient safety and ethical practice. The analysis incorporates the use of decision-making flowcharts to illustrate the proper sequence of actions and considerations, reinforcing the significance of careful evaluation and consultation in clinical settings.

DECISION MAKING
FRAMEWORK

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................3

INTRODUCTION
For any sector decision making framework is compulsory and so is the case with nursing
and midwives industry. This framework provides all the essentials for making decisions. Nursing
and Midwifery Board of Australia undertakes the function to set the law in this regards and
regulating the practice of nursing in the country (Abbott, P., Mc Sherry, R. and Simmons, M.
eds., 2013). It assures that the midwives or nurse who are actually qualified gets to practice in a
effective and ethical manner gets registered.
Framework has two parts; First is set of principles that makes the foundation for the evaluation
and development of tools that are used for decision making and second is having two templates
for the same tools, each for nursing and midwifery in acknowledgement of the difference among
the two professions.
MAIN BODY
Here in this case an enrolled nurse was reprimanded by registered nurse for not
consulting her prior to administering 500mg of paracetamol.
Needs of client: A 40 year old client needed 500mg of oral paracetamol which was needed by
her when she complained that she is having headache.
Regulated nursing practices: The practice underlined in framework suggests that enrolled
nurse should have consulted her prior before providing assistance to the patient (Thompson and
et. al., 2013).
In this case organisational support was not needed but if it would have been provided then she
would have worked more professionally.
practice scope of the profession: Scope of practice of profession in any field can be shared with
other professions, individuals or groups. It is considered as the full array of roles,
responsibilities, functions, decision making capacity & activities that professionals inside firm is
licensed to perform. Scope of activity of all profession's related to health is impacted by specific
setting,policy, surrounding environment, standards and needs of population. So in this scenario
she was completely eligible to perform her role as she was a enrolled nurse.
Within own scope of practice: It is for the individuals working in this firm is educated,
authorised and competent to perform. Decisions regarding both the individual's and professional
practice may be controlled by making use of tools for decision making. While formulating any
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decision nurse or midwives needs to reckon their personal and respective profession's scope
regarding thier practice.
After evaluating each step it can be said that the enrolled nurse was fully capable of
providing medical attention to the 40 years old client when she complaints of having headache
and requested for oral dose of Paracetamol. As per the national framework for decision making
she should have consulted to her prior before providing oral dose of paracetamol. If this would
have resulted in altered way then she would have faced legal implications. I think the action
taken by her prior was reasonable as she was an enrolled nurse and had various responsibility
towards the safety of patient. Nursing decision making flowchart explains the order in which she
would have consulted her prior before coming to any decision.
As a concluding remark it can be said that the action taken by registered nurse against the
enrolled nurse was appropriate. Reprimanded by registered nurse will let her become more
careful from the next time. Decision making flowchart will help her in this regard.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Abbott, P., Mc Sherry, R. and Simmons, M. eds., 2013. Evidence-informed nursing: A guide for
clinical nurses. Routledge.
Thompson, C., and et. al., 2013. An agenda for clinical decision making and judgement in
nursing research and education. International journal of nursing studies. 50(12). pp.
1720-1726.
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