Report on Professional Conduct Case Study: Nursing Ethics and Practice

This report analyzes a case study involving a nurse, Ms. Abha Kumar, who was disqualified from working in aged care for five years due to professional misconduct. The case revolves around Ms. Kumar's over-involvement in the affairs of an elderly patient, Mr. Lionel Cox, and her subsequent benefit from his will. The report is divided into three parts: Part A summarizes the events, Part B discusses the crucial professional conduct aspects, including honesty and conflict of interest, in relation to the code of conduct and its importance in nursing practice, and Part C analyzes the outcomes of the case, the role of AHPRA, and the lessons learned. The core issues highlighted are the transgression of professional boundaries, failure to manage conflicts of interest, and the lack of reflective practice. The report emphasizes the importance of ethical conduct and the consequences of violating professional standards in nursing, ultimately underscoring the significance of maintaining patient trust and upholding the integrity of the profession.

Professional Conduct
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INTRODUCTION
Professional conduct is referred as the area of regulation of members of professional bodies,
acting under contractual or statutory powers. The code of professional conduct includes
principles that directs professional interactions. Two complementary sections are consisting in
the code: professional ideals and professional obligations. This report is based on the case study
in which a tribunal has disqualified or ban nurse from re-applying for or registration in aged care
settings for 5 years. This report consists of three parts. Part A covers summary of the main events
that takes place in case. Part B discusses about what is considered to be crucial professional
conduct aspect of case study and its relation to code of conduct as well as importance for nursing
practice and quality of patient care. Part C covers discussion of outcomes of case study, the way
case relates to role of NMBA and the main lessons to be learnt from the case study.
MAIN BODY
Part A: Summary & context
The provided case study is about 'Tribunal bans nurse from aged care for five years'. In the
provided case study, a nurse was disqualified by the tribunal from re-applying for working in
aged care services for 5 years for her over involved in affairs of elderly patient and benefited
from his will. She was disqualified because of gone beyond the limits of professional boundaries
with elderly patient. In year 2015, Ms. Abha Kumar worked as a nurse unit manager in aged care
facility. Mr. Lionel Cox was admitted in the facility for respite care. After his admission, Ms.
Kumar learned that Mr. Cox had no family, he had his own home and had not made a will. At
that time, unknown to the witnesses, the will named Ms. Kumar as sole beneficiary and executor
of Mr. Leonel estate. Due to some natural causes, Mr. Cox died in august. In your 2016, the
house was sold by Ms. Kumar for over 1000000 dollars. After investigating about the all case,
AHPRA referred Ms. Kumar to Victorian civil and administrative tribunal on September 2018
where she was found to be engaged in professional misconduct which was inconsistent with be a
proper and fit person to hold registration in nursing by failing to manage the conflict of interest
appropriately in which acquire benefit from will of Mr. Cox in circumstances where she knew
earlier to his death that he named as beneficiary, over involvement in affairs of Mr. Cox and
feeling to practice the nursing profession in reflective way.
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Due to this professional misconduct, Ms. Kumar was disqualified for registration for next 5 years
as well as also prohibited from administering any kind of health services in disability or aged
care for 5 years. Some proven allegations are found by the tribunal on Ms. Abha. The first one is
to transgressed the boundaries that must exist between a patient and a registered nurse. Second
one is failed to manage conflicts of interest and the third one is failed to practice the nursing
profession and reflective way.
Part B: Discussion of professional conduct
In this case, the aspect of commitment to honesty wit patients is considered to be a
significant professional conduct as nurses are one of the most trusted professionals and majority
of them work with deep commitment and integrity to administer professional care for patient.
Honesty with patients’ needs not only informing them truthfully regarding their condition and
the recommended treatment, but also informing them regarding potential adverse reactions to
medical errors and treatments, weather those could outcome in actual harm. Professionalism in
nursing is not only speaking politely and wearing a uniform. It encompasses values that are
crucial to elevating patient care quality while enhancing the standards, methods and judgement
that directs practices of nursing every day. Professionalism in nursing reflects the action of
providing high quality care to patient and at the same time honouring the values of advocacy,
responsibility and respect. The code of professional conduct involves principles that directs
professional interactions. Failure to mitigate the professional obligations depicts violation of
professional code of conduct. In the provided case, although Ms Abha knew previously to the
death of Mr Cox that he intended to mention her name as a beneficiary in his will, she failed to
manage conflict of interest that she got benefit under will of Mr Cox in such circumstances. She
failed to practice of being professional and involved herself much in the affairs of Mr Cox.
Part C: Discussion of case outcomes & role of AHPRA
CONCLUSION
As per the above mentioned report, it has been concluded that
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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