Analysis of Professional Nursing Practice: NURBN 1001 Case Study, 2020

This case study analyzes a scenario where a nurse fails to adhere to the Australian Code of Conduct, patient rights, and social media policies. The nurse disregards a patient's complaints of abdominal pain, dismisses her concerns, and discloses her private information. The analysis highlights violations of patient privacy, the right to safe and quality care, and ethical standards. The nurse's actions, including failure to collaborate with the doctor and adhere to mandatory reporting, are discussed in detail. The study references relevant legislation and professional guidelines, such as the Privacy Act 1988 and the Code of Conduct for Nurses, to demonstrate the importance of ethical and professional conduct in healthcare. The document underscores the consequences of non-compliance and emphasizes the need for healthcare professionals to uphold patient rights and adhere to legal and ethical frameworks.

Running head: NURBN1001- Assessment Task 1 A
1
Assessment Task 1 A.
(Author’s name)
(Institutional Affiliation)

Assessment Task 1 A 2
Case Study
Nurse Nickie does not adhere to the Australian Code of Conduct for nurses which states
that a nurse is obligated to follow laws and have lawful behavior. The patient complains of
having pain in the lower abdomen saying she has appendicitis. The nurse ignores arguing the
patent is pretending. Additionally, the nurse discloses the patient privacy on the phone telling her
friend the patient has got’ some pain’. This is a breach of privacy and unlawful behavior that is
prohibited by law and the Code of Conduct for nurses. The brother to the patient seems to
understand patient rights but the nurses do not. When the nurse is asked to attend to his sister,
she further ignores the patient arguing she is okay. By the look of the video, the patient seems
distressed but still, the nurse does not bother to attend her. Patients have the right to ask
questions and access to safe and quality care. The nurse obviously does not follow patients rights
guidelines. Such rights include the right to access health care, receive high quality and safe care,
be treated with dignity and respect, ask questions, receive care and provide feedback regarding
care provided (Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, 2019).
The nurse also does not adhere to Social Media Policy which advises nurses should not
use media such as smartphones during patient care or disclose patient privacy to another third
party (AHPRA,2014). She also does not respect patient boundaries and dignity. She starts to
flatter with Will, the patient’s brother while the patient is in pain. Health care professionals
should not, in any case, take advantage of the patient suffering for self-interests. Nurses are also
obligated to collaborate with other health care providers to ensure patients receive the best care
available. The nurse in the case video does not collaborate with the doctor. She did not explain or
bother to discuss the condition of the patient but lied that the patient had no problem and is
pretending. The patient is later diagnosed with appendicitis which clearly shows how misconduct

Assessment Task 1 A 3
the nurse was. Instead of recording the patient's progress and reporting to the doctor, the nurse
fails to follow the mandatory reporting and Health Records Act 2011. To conclude, the nurse has
shown how health care providers do not adhere to professional practices. The nurse has not
followed codes of conducts guideline, media policies in clinical practice and the Privacy Act
1988 and Amendments in 2012. Furthermore, the nurse does not follow ethical standards for
professional practice.

Assessment Task 1 A 4
References.
Atkins, K., De Lacey, S., Ripperger, R., & Britton, B. (2017). Ethics & law for Australian nurses
(6th ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. (2019). The Australian charter of
health care rights (second edition). Retrieved November 7th, 2019 from
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/national-priorities/charter-of- healthcare
rights/review-of-the-charter-of-healthcare-rights-second-edition
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). (2014).
National Board policy for Registered health practitioner Social Media Policy. Retrieved
November 7th, 2019, from https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-
GuidelinesStatements/Policies/Social-media-policy.aspx
Health Records Act 2001 (Vic). Retrieved from
http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/LTObject_Store/LTOb
jSt2.nsf/DDE300B846EED9C7CA257616000A3571/12626CDEB1AB334FCA25776
10020607F/$FILE/01-2a001.pdf Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. (2018).
Code of conduct for nurses. Retrieved October 29, 2019 from
https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/CodesGuidelines-Statements/Professional-
standards.aspx
The Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). Retrieved from
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00241
Privacy Amendment (enhancing privacy protection) Act 2012. Retrieved from
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2012A00197