Legal Question

[Leah236]

I've been researching this for my legal/ethical issues in nursing course but can't find a clear cut answer... i would greatly appreciate any help!

Is a registered nurse responsible for care he or she cannot render due to understaffing

by the hospital?

[ayla2004, ASN, RN]

In the UK yes our registarton board NMC response is that if understaffing or any other events outside your controol do not cahnge your accoutability for the care of the patients you are responibles for. If you feel that you can't provide that care and something were to happen the NMC ahas said it is better to get a new job than to lose your registration(don't know about other countries/states/provinces.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Yes. The answer to this will be in position statements on the state board sites. There are very specific things an RN must do when these situations arise and they involve priorizing and delegating care as well as notifying the specific patient medical providers.

[elkpark]

In the US, it has been well established in the courts that understaffing is not an excuse or defense for an individual nurse's failure to provide safe, competent care to her/his assigned clients. If a situation is not safe because of staffing levels, the best option (to protect yourself, that is) is to refuse the assignment up front. If you accept an assignment and something goes seriously wrong, you cannot defend yourself after the fact by saying there wasn't enough staff.