The Nurse Deserved a Suspension
Arguably, nurses are usually expected to vital ethical judgments, requiring them to incorporate ethical principles in every aspect of the advanced nursing practice. As a result, they must adhere to an ethical principle of accountability, which refers to accepting responsibilities for their actions (Klugman, 2016). Therefore, the nurse's incredible explanation was a sufficient reason for the supervisor to suspend the nurse.
The Impact of Other Nurses' Testimony
The other nurses testified that they frequently completed their paper record documentation at the end of the shift or during their breaks (Guido, 2014). Such actions show their incompetence, hence affecting the case outcomes negatively. The nurse could have used the argument of their incompetence actions to cover for the drug's misuse.
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Additional Questions to be addressed
The institution needs to question the accuracy of the patient's records prepared by the nurses. The nurses testified that they did not keep accurate documentation of the dosage and medication they administer. Excellent medical records, whether handwritten or electronic, are crucial for patients' care continuity (Guido, 2014). They offer a window on the clinical judgment, thus defending a complaint or clinical negligence claim.
Case ruling
In this case, the nurse's actions show that her actions were incompetent. Although there might have been no adequate evidence indicating her use of narcotics for personal gains, the nurse should be punished for her incompetent actions. The nursing ethical principles state that the nurses should maintain their professional responsibilities and promises by offering high-quality and safe health care. However, that should be done in a competent manner (Klugman, 2016).
The Standards of Care Were Met
In this scenario, the NP and the consulting physician had done their work diligently and had met the standards of care. The patient was suffering from persistent diarrhea, which bacteria might have caused. As a result, the practitioners gave the patient an anti-bacterial medication (Guido, 2014). Therefore, the NP and the consulting physician had acted within the scope of their actions.
The Impact of Full Autopsy on the Outcome
Conducting a full autopsy is an essential way of determining the cause, manner, and death mode. A full autopsy could have also helped to evaluate any injury or disease present. Since that was not conducted, there is no evidence that the patient died due to the lack of competent care. Thus, the NP and the clinic might not have been found guilty.
Impact of the Patient's Gastrointestinal Problems Examination
According to the death certificate, the patient died of a cardiovascular event with hypertension as a contributing factor (Guido, 2014). Therefore, examining a gastrointestinal problem on the patient could not have any positive impact. The gastrointestinal examination would have checked for problems associated with the stomach, esophagus, large intestines, small intestines, and rectum, which are not related to a cardiovascular event.
The Court's Decision Negligence
The courts should punish negligent medical practitioners. Acts of negligence can cause harm to the patient. The non-maleficence principle states that a healthcare practitioner should not harm the patient, as stated in the historical Hippocratic Oath (Klugman, 2016).
The Nurse Manager's Supervisory Responsibility
Although the nurse manager might have delegated the responsibility of supervising the patient's care, the manager is always liable for the outcome (Guido, 2014). The nurses have to give safe and competent nursing care.
The Patient's Care Offered by the LPN
The care of this patient was not properly assigned to the LPN by the charge nurse. The charge nurse failed to assess the patient in the evening and did not enquire about his condition (Guido, 2014). It is the duty of the nurse in charge to recognize the potential problems of the patient.
Retention of the Supervisory Responsibility
Although delegation refers to authority transfer for activity performance from one person to another, the delegator retains the outcome accountability (Guido, 2014). Therefore, the charge nurse had the supervisory responsibility to ensure the desired outcomes are achieved.
Principles Associated with Delegation and Supervision
Effective discipline is an essential part of the nurse manager's role in delegation and supervision. It helps both the supervisor and the delegate achieve the desired objectives (Guido, 2014). In this case, this principle was poorly executed.
Case Ruling
Unquestionably, this case was negligent. The patient was not assessed as required, thus did not receive the best medication. Also, the nurse manager failed in her supervisory duties ( Guido, 2014). As a result, the charge nurse and the LPN should be held accountable.
References
Guido, G. W. (2014). Legal and ethical issues in nursing. Pearson Education. Legal and Ethical Issues in Nursing 6th edition Ginny Guido.
Klugman, C. M. (2016). Recognizing ethical terms, theories, and principles. Ethical Competence in Nursing Practice . https://doi.org/10.1891/9780826126382.0001
