Ethical, Legal, Aging Adult Flashcards
Altruism and example
Concern for others well-being or putting others before yourself; helpful/kind without expecting something in return
Example: 3 checks + 8 rights, comfort measures, warm blanket for patient, advocating to meet needs, turn Q2 hours on dot, taking preventive measures (ie: checking K+ levels before administering), sitting with a patient who appears sad
Autonomy(professional
Value) and examples
Respecting patients decisions and supporting their right to make those decisions
Ex: educating patients when denying taking meds and if they still deny, respecting their decision
Human dignity and examples
Uniqueness of an Individual; being respectful toward all individuals and protecting them
Ex: incorporating privacy (curtains, gown), ensuring comfort when providing care
Integrity and examples
Incorporating code of ethics and standards of practice
Ex: owning up to mistakes (reporting medication errors)
Social justice and examples
Care that is fair and non-discriminatory
Ex: treating all patients equally (same amount of compassion, care, time spent), patients who don’t have insurance vs those who do (regardless both deserve care)
Autonomy (bioethics) and examples
Patients should be provided with information in order to make an educated decision on their care
Example: providing patients with informed consent, providing factual/non-bias information and or information without personal opinions)
Non-maleficence and examples
Do no harm; goal to prevent harm to a patient
Ex: asking for help when you are unsure how to do something, having bed in lowest position, 3 rights/8 checks, holding meds that can cause harm (ie: holding metoprolol because their bp is below 100 or HR is below 60, holding a medication a patient has allergy to, holding K+ supplements when their levels are too high)
Beneficence and examples
Doing good for a patient; doing the right thing
Ex: treatments that benefit patients such as: ambulation, ROM, encouraging speaking to help rehabilitate aphasia, sitting patient up while eating to prevent aspiration. Or providing therapeutic communication if patient is stressed, helping someone cope with disabilities, interventions to prevent falls when pt is a fall risk, seizure precautions if seizure prone, pain medication to treat pain, and 3 checks/ 8 rights
Fidelity and examples
If you promise something, hold to that promise
Ex: coming back to check on a patient in a specified time or sending someone to check on them if you don’t have time, giving general time frames, “let me check if we have that” or “let me check if we can do that”
Veracity and examples
Being honest and telling the truth
Ex: accurate documentation, mentioning side effects of a medication, admitting to mistakes, being honest about first time performing a procedure if patient asks
Confidentiality and example
Keeping patient information private
Ex: sharing someone’s information only if they are given permission to know that information, closing screens with patient information when walking away, not discussing patients in public areas
Incompetent nursing practice
Performing a procedure in an incorrect way and providing harm to the patient
What is the purpose of the RN practice act
State law governs our scope of practice and responsibilities of nurses (ie observation of symptoms, administering medications, performing procedure such as wound care, catheter insertions, IV insertions)
Define assault and examples
Assault involves threatening actions; it’s the act of making someone fear that you will cause them harm
Ex: verbal threats
Define battery and give examples
Battery is intentional act of causing physical harm to someone
Ex: forcing someone to take a medication even if they don’t want to, forcing someone to sit down, etc.
Define negligence
Performing an act that a reasonable person would not perform (or failing to perform a task that a reasonable person would perform in the same circumstance)
What are the 4 elements of informed consent?
- Disclosure
- Comprehension
- Competence
- Voluntary ness
Describe disclosure. Who provides this to the patient?
Disclosure: patient is informed of the nature of a procedure, the risks, the probability or chance of complications, and benefits. Also alternatives are given, as well as choice on non-treatment. Finally the patient is informed that no outcomes can be guaranteed. The provider gives the disclosure.
Describe comprehension. Who is someone responsible for checking that patient comprehends?
Comprehension: patient can repeat in own words that consent is given
They are comfortable with amount of information given and understand procedure
The nurse is responsible for ensuring that the patient understands the procedure (looking for signs of hesitancy and doubt)
Describe competence
Competence: Patient can understand the information provided to them and are able to make informed decision and can communicate their preference.
Describe voluntariness
Patient is voluntarily consenting or refusing (not being pressured by someone else)
What are sentinel events and some examples?
Patient safety event that results in death, permanent harm, severe harm, temporary harm, or potential harm that is preventable.
Ex: falls, post-op related injury, delay in treatment, medication error, suicide
What are never events? Some examples?
Never events are events that are also preventable and are medical errors that should never occur and may result in disability, death, etc.
ex: surgery on wrong patient, surgery on wrong region, discharging someone incapable of making own decisions
What are three physical changes of the older adult?
Skin integrity: wrinkling, sagging of skin due to decreased skin elasticity.. skin may be more dry
Diminished hearing
Hardening and decreased elasticity of bvs; poor venous return and increase in plaque
How is cognition affected in the older adult?
Cognition slows down, with short term memory loss being common. Long term memory remains, but cognitive impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer’s are possible.
Describe moral development of the older adult
Older adults tend to have reached and met their moral development
Describe spiritual development in the older adult
Some have achieved an earlier level of spirituality while others may integrate spirituality more heavily
What is eriksons developmental task of the older adult. How do nurses play into this?
It is common for older adults to look back and reflect. It is important that older adults can accept the past and accept changes their body is experiencing.
Nurses can help them adapt to changes and set attainable goals
What is reminiscence? Why is it important for older adults to do this?
Reminiscence: telling stories about past experiences and life events.
The act of looking back can help work through what the patient is currently experiencing
/going through.
Helps people adapt to new situations, as comparing it to something similar they have experienced can help with coping.
