15 Jan Analyze the role of the

MN506 HEALTH POLICY, ETHICAL, AND LEGAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

Unit 1 Discussion

Topic: Nursing Leaders as Ethical-Legal Change Agents in Health Care

In the course, you will research ethical decision-making and legal issues that influence your role as a nursing leader. Please take this opportunity to introduce yourself, state your area of specialization, and explain how you see your role as a nursing leader making ethical-legal and moral decisions. Include what actions you plan to take to minimize or alleviate moral distress caused by ethical dilemmas and the values that support your actions.

MN506 HEALTH POLICY, ETHICAL, AND LEGAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

Unit 2 Discussion

Advanced Practice Nursing Decisions that Cause Moral Distress

In the course, you will research ethical decision-making and legal issues that influence your role as a leader in your chosen field (Practitioner, Administrator, or Educator). Explain how you see your role as a nursing leader making ethical-legal and moral decisions. Identify strategies you plan to implement to solve moral distress caused by ethical dilemmas and the values that support your actions.

MN506 HEALTH POLICY, ETHICAL, AND LEGAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

Unit 3 Discussion

Topic: Application of Standards of Care

For the case scenario, discuss the standard(s) of care that the parties will be held to in this case. How will the standards of care and the Nurse Practice Act for your state be applied in a court of law if the case is sued?

Case Scenario

SK, age 61, was admitted to the hospital. Because of understaffing of nurses in the hospital, her assigned RN did not assess her often enough and did not monitor her oxygen level.

SK went to the hospital with what she thought was a bad cold, and was admitted with a diagnosis of pneumonia. Following admission, she became increasingly feverish and short of breath, but her family’s calls for help went unanswered. In fact, her daughter was unable to find anyone when she went to the nurses’ station looking for help. The patient eventually stopped breathing, and someone finally responded to the family’s desperate and frantic calls for help. SK was successfully resuscitated, but sustained brain damage due to oxygen deprivation. She was left unable to walk, talk, or care for herself.

There were 41 other patients on this unit. Although the hospital’s own staffing standards called for 5 registered nurses and 2 licensed practical nurses to staff this unit, only 3 registered nurses were on duty. Records for the unit in question indicated that the hospital failed to meet its own staffing standards for 51 out of 59 days before this incident.

MN506 HEALTH POLICY, ETHICAL, AND LEGAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

Unit 4 Discussion

Topic: The Legal Implications of Acceptance or Refusal of an Assignment

After reviewing the ANA position statement on “Rights of Registered Nurses when Considering a Patient Assignment,” discuss the legal and ethical implications of accepting assignments. When delegating assignments to unlicensed personnel, what considerations need to be considered? What insurance issues come into play? Analyze the legal principle of Respondeat Superior.

MN506 HEALTH POLICY, ETHICAL, AND LEGAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

Unit 5 Discussion

Topic: Impaired Nurses

Assume that you have knowledge that the nurse working with you on your unit has been illegally using drugs. Discuss your professional obligations and institutional obligations to disclose this. Discuss the referral sources for impaired nurses in your state. Analyze the impact of this issue on your advanced practice role as a practitioner/administrator/educator.

MN506 HEALTH POLICY, ETHICAL, AND LEGAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

Unit 6 Discussion

Topic: Legal issues of an Advanced Practice Nurse in the Workplace

Choose one topic from the following list and evaluate how the chosen topic impacts your role as an advanced practice nurse. What are the legal implications related to your role? Analyze how understanding of the chosen topic will impact your future role as an advanced practice nurse.

Choose one:

Employer and employee rights

American with Disabilities Act

Employment contracts and unionization

Corporate liability

Sexual harassment in the workplace

Employees with AIDS/HIV and exposure to bloodborne pathogens

Environmental health and safety

MN506 HEALTH POLICY, ETHICAL, AND LEGAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

Unit 7 Discussion

Topic: Advocacy and Policy Reform

Compare and contrast three nursing advocates who have brought about change to public policy. What changes need to be made in the future to be successful as a profession of nursing advocates for healthcare policy reform?

MN506 HEALTH POLICY, ETHICAL, AND LEGAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

Unit 8 Discussion

Topic: Strategies for Legislative Change

Choose a health care treatment option that is controversial and may be costly. Describe three positive benefits and three negative effects from the treatment. Identify five strategies would you use to advocate for a legislative change in your state to influence insurance coverage for this treatment.

MN506 HEALTH POLICY, ETHICAL, AND LEGAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

Unit 9 Discussion

Topic: The Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse in a Changing Health Care Environment

Analyze the role of the advanced practice nurse in the changing health care environment. How will this role augment physicians’ practices? What implications will the Affordable Care Act have on this new delivery system?

MN506 HEALTH POLICY, ETHICAL, AND LEGAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

Unit 10 Discussion

Topic: Global Nursing Shortage

Evaluate the effects of the global nursing shortage on health policy. How has the shortage affected the United Nations Millennium Development Goals? Analyze how nursing ideas, values, and beliefs impact policy agenda. Identify when policy can dictate treatment options.