Questions about ethics in nursing?

Trauma Columnist · Feb 1, 2015

Moved to nursing student assistance forum.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2015

Can anyone give me examples of non focusing thinking besides "daydreaming"?

Look up the definition (not just what you think it is) of delusion and other changes in consciousness or perception. Daydreaming can be completely focused, and is generally voluntary. Expand your horizons to think of ways thinking can be not under the person's conscious control, or not productive, or even counterproductive.

Also, nonmaleficence and beneficence almost sound alike. For example, checking the temperature of a bath is an example of nonmaleficence, it sounds like it can be beneficence also.

Let's look at the difference between two different ways of dealing with a new puppy. Is "not being mean to him" the same as "being kind to him"? Is "checking to see that the bathwater isn't dangerously hot or cold" the same as "therapeutic bathing"?

Another question is about negligence. If a nurse assistant neglects patient care, is it considered malpractice or just negligence?

This is a delegation question as well as a scope of practice question. Who is responsible for delegating the patient's care to the CNA? Who has the professional responsibility for patient care? Think about the job descriptions for nurse and CNA. Is each responsible for his/her own job description? Why?

What are the elements of malpractice? Is there a difference between doing something that is directly harmful and allowing harm by inaction.neglect? I'm not giving you the answers to these, but when you figure them out, you'll understand better.

RunBabyRN · Feb 4, 2015

https://allnurses.com/nursing-student-assistance/dear-nursing-students-970183.html

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Feb 4, 2015

there are many things you can do/not do that qualify for malpractice, depending on your State laws. One of these is negligence. But, again, the definition of negligence is defined by law. One of the seminal cases in Texas occured years ago when an ER nurse had a patient present with chest pain, told the MD, and the MD said to send the patient to the next hospital. The patient died on the way. The nurse had liability because she should have used the chain of command to get the patient stabilized. Of course the MD was guilty too,but that is not the point. Even though the patient had not even signed in, the nurse was considered negligent.