Need advice on my Nuring Ethics Project

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Specializes in Primary Care, Progressive Care.

Hello everyone,

I'm taking Ethics as my last MSN class before I graduate. Need some advice regarding my final presentation. We had to interview an APRN regarding their ethical dilemma. Mine was about an FNP who assessed a prisoner, found bruises all over him, found out he was beaten by the officers that arrested and brought him to the prison. Long story short, she sent the prisoner to ER for treatment and reported the incident to the appropriate authorities.

Anyway, the section i am having a difficult time with is the "Alternative Approach". Do you have any idea on what else the FNP could have done differently in this situation without breaking her moral values, scope, law, and loyalty to the patient?

Thank you!!!

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I am not sure of an alternate approach, as a nurse is ethically bound to report abuse. Regardless of the status of a patient (ie: a prisoner). This is a case of personal judgments not clouding nursing judgment.

And by sending the patient to the ER, you are allowing another set of eyes and ears to assess and treat what you discovered. An alternate thought process could be that you can not assume. A person's idea of abuse when getting arrested may or may not be 100% accurate--meaning, if the patient was struggling, fighting, a clear danger to others--he may have been a danger to himself, he may have ran from the police and had to be restrained with force--lots of things.

With all that being said, this is not something that you should deal with on your own. To send to an alternate level of treatment is a good thing, and by not laying judgments on whatever occurred.

Great topic and best wishes!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I unfortunately have first hand experience with prison life in the US and it is entirely a different world.

Some other options:

1. Prison ombudsman - in most states abuse can be reported anonymously.

2. The 2003 Prison Rape Elimination Act might also provide some information as well as a different type of solution: http://www.prearesourcecenter.org/about/prison-rape-elimination-act-prea

3. In some states (for instance in IL, the Uptown Law Offices in Chicago and the John Howard Association) provide prisoner support and referral to attorneys if the prisoner wishes to go this direction.

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You could change the scenario slightly. Perhaps the prisoner claimed guard abuse but you suspected fellow prisoner abuse?

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Specializes in Primary Care, Progressive Care.
I unfortunately have first hand experience with prison life in the US and it is entirely a different world.

Some other options:

1. Prison ombudsman - in most states abuse can be reported anonymously.

2. The 2003 Prison Rape Elimination Act might also provide some information as well as a different type of solution: http://www.prearesourcecenter.org/about/prison-rape-elimination-act-prea

3. In some states (for instance in IL, the Uptown Law Offices in Chicago and the John Howard Association) provide prisoner support and referral to attorneys if the prisoner wishes to go this direction.

Thank u so much!!! This is very helpful traumaRus.

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Specializes in Primary Care, Progressive Care.
You could change the scenario slightly. Perhaps the prisoner claimed guard abuse but you suspected fellow prisoner abuse?

Yeah! That sounds like a great alternative ad well. Thank u!!!

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Specializes in Primary Care, Progressive Care.
I am not sure of an alternate approach, as a nurse is ethically bound to report abuse. Regardless of the status of a patient (ie: a prisoner). This is a case of personal judgments not clouding nursing judgment.

And by sending the patient to the ER, you are allowing another set of eyes and ears to assess and treat what you discovered. An alternate thought process could be that you can not assume. A person's idea of abuse when getting arrested may or may not be 100% accurate--meaning, if the patient was struggling, fighting, a clear danger to others--he may have been a danger to himself, he may have ran from the police and had to be restrained with force--lots of things.

With all that being said, this is not something that you should deal with on your own. To send to an alternate level of treatment is a good thing, and by not laying judgments on whatever occurred.

Great topic and best wishes!

Thank you! Yes i couldnt think of any other alternative until i got some good insights from other nurses here. Anyway, good thoughts about "the idea of abuse", agree could be viewed differently. I will add that ad well. :)

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