Case Study Analysis: Registered Nurse Mary's Professional Standards

This case study focuses on Registered Nurse (RN) Mary, working in residential aged care, and assesses her adherence to the RN Standards for Practice (2016) and the Code of Conduct (2018) established by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). Mary's colleagues raised concerns about her patient care, citing instances of unattended residents and time spent away from her duties. The analysis evaluates Mary's actions against Standard 1 (critical thinking) and Standard 2 (therapeutic relationships), highlighting potential non-compliance with NMBA guidelines. The case study emphasizes the importance of person-centered care, ethical decision-making, mandatory reporting obligations, and the role of managers and colleagues in addressing concerns about professional conduct. The conclusion is that Mary's practices appear to be in violation of the standards, potentially endangering the health and safety of her patients, which could lead to legal consequences.