Legal, Ethical, and Political Issues in Nursing

by Aiken, Tonia Dandry, Rn; Catalano, Joseph T., Rn

• ISBN13: 9780803600812
• ISBN10: 080360081X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1994-03-01
• Publisher: F a Davis Co

Summary

Tonia Aiken's text takes a user-friendly, practical approach, and provides all the features nursing educators and students rely on for comprehensive legal and ethical advice. It includes chapters on risk management and conflict management, critical-thinking features, an emphasis on ethical issues, and examines the role of the nurse in the political process. "After reading this, the healthcare professional will be better informed and prepared in dealing with legal issues. Educators will find this a useful tool for the classroom." -- Volume 26, No. 3, May/June 2004 issue of the Journal for Healthcare Quality.

Author Biography

Tonia Aiken RN, BSN, JD, is currently an adjunct faculty member of the Louisiana State University Health Science Center School of Nursing

Table of Contents

Nursing Practice	p. 1
Nursing Practice	p. 3
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 3
Chapter Thoughts	p. 3
Objectives	p. 4
Introduction	p. 4
Licensure	p. 4
National Practitioner Data Bank	p. 28
Financial Responsibility for Practice	p. 30
Nursing and the Law	p. 35
Standards of Care	p. 37
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 37
Chapter Thoughts	p. 37
Objectives	p. 38
Introduction	p. 38
Standards of Care	p. 38
Developing Standards of Care	p. 44
Legal Implications of Standards of Care	p. 45
Legal Theories and Standards of Care	p. 48
The Law	p. 55
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 55
Chapter Thoughts	p. 55
Objectives	p. 56
Introduction	p. 56
Legal Status of Nursing	p. 56
Definition of Law	p. 57
Sources of Law	p. 58
Types of Law	p. 66
Jurisdiction	p. 71
Nursing Ethics	p. 81
Lobbying	p. 83
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 83
Chapter Thoughts	p. 83
Objectives	p. 84
Introduction	p. 84
Lobbying: A Primer for Nurses	p. 84
Understanding the Process	p. 90
Keep Abreast of Legislation, Regulations, and Congress	p. 92
Ethics in Nursing	p. 97
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 97
Chapter Thoughts	p. 97
Objectives	p. 97
Introduction	p. 98
Law Versus Ethics	p. 98
Key Definitions	p. 99
Ethical Decision-Making Process	p. 101
An Ethics Primer	p. 106
Comparing Two Ethical Systems	p. 113
Liability in Professional Practice	p. 125
Intentional and Quasi-intentional Torts	p. 127
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 127
Chapter Thoughts	p. 127
Objectives	p. 128
Introduction	p. 128
Intentional Torts	p. 130
Quasi-intentional Torts	p. 139
Common Areas of Negligence and Liability	p. 153
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 153
Chapter Thoughts	p. 153
Objectives	p. 154
Introduction	p. 154
Nurses' Liability	p. 154
Common Causes of Liability	p. 155
Vital Statistics	p. 172
Documentation and the Nurse	p. 185
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 185
Chapter Thoughts	p. 185
Objectives	p. 186
Introduction	p. 187
Purposes of Documentation	p. 187
Documenting for Risk Management	p. 189
Legal and Ethical Responsibilities	p. 189
Documentation Standards	p. 190
Types of Documentation	p. 191
Effective Documentation	p. 197
Documenting in Special Situations	p. 202
Documentation Weaknesses	p. 204
Who Owns the Medical Records?	p. 207
Incident/Occurrence/Variance Reports	p. 208
What to Do After the Incident	p. 213
Electronic Documentation	p. 217
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 217
Chapter Thoughts	p. 217
Objectives	p. 217
Introduction	p. 218
What Is Electronic Documentation?	p. 218
Ensuring Confidentiality	p. 220
Physical Security	p. 222
Personnel Security	p. 222
System Security	p. 223
Integrity of Electronic Documentation	p. 223
Advantages of Electronic Documentation	p. 224
Problems Associated with Electronic Documentation	p. 226
The Future of Electronic Documentation	p. 227
Risk Management	p. 231
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 231
Chapter Thoughts	p. 231
Objectives	p. 232
Introduction	p. 232
Techniques of Risk Management	p. 232
Compliance with Policies and Procedures	p. 236
Utilization Review Process: Peer Review	p. 242
Liability	p. 242
Peer Review	p. 243
Informed Consent	p. 247
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 247
Chapter Thoughts	p. 247
Objectives	p. 248
Introduction	p. 248
What Is Consent and When Do You Need It?	p. 249
Standards of Disclosure	p. 255
Treatment Without Consent	p. 258
Proving Lack of Consent Cases	p. 259
Theory Behind Informed Consent: Patient's Right to Self-Determination	p. 261
Facility Liability: Employment Issues	p. 277
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 277
Chapter Thoughts	p. 277
Objectives	p. 278
Introduction	p. 279
Vicarious Liability	p. 279
Corporate Negligence	p. 283
Employment Law Liability	p. 284
Post-termination	p. 291
Discrimination and Harassment	p. 292
Liability of the Nurse Manager	p. 311
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 311
Chapter Thoughts	p. 311
Objectives	p. 312
Introduction	p. 312
Supervisors Establish Facility Standard of Care	p. 313
Issues Handled/Encountered by Nurse Supervisors	p. 319
Minimizing Potential Problems Before They Arise--The Nurse Manager's Role	p. 330
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services	p. 331
The Nurse and the Medical Malpractice Lawsuit	p. 337
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 337
Chapter Thoughts	p. 337
Objectives	p. 338
Introduction	p. 338
The Litigation Process: Initial Stages	p. 338
Preparing the Case	p. 339
The Litigation Process: Discovery	p. 345
Legal Research: Foundation of a Lawsuit	p. 352
The Litigation Process: Trial	p. 354
Sample Complaint	p. 361
Sample Fee Agreement and Authority to Represent	p. 365
Sample Request for Production of Documents and Things	p. 369
Sample Interrogatories and Answers	p. 371
Excerpt of a Sample Deposition	p. 373
Sample Form for Request for Admission of Facts	p. 375
Sample Subpoena	p. 377
The Expert	p. 379
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 379
Chapter Thoughts	p. 379
Objectives	p. 379
Introduction	p. 379
What Is an Expert Witness?	p. 380
Why Use an Expert?	p. 380
Qualifications of an Expert	p. 383
Sources of Experts	p. 384
Experts: Tasks and Types	p. 384
Types of Experts	p. 386
Expert Charges	p. 387
Sample Expert Report	p. 390
Sample Expert Witness Contract	p. 393
Professional Liability Insurance	p. 395
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 395
Chapter Thoughts	p. 395
Objectives	p. 396
Introduction	p. 396
Should Nurses Have Insurance?	p. 397
The Insuring Agreement	p. 401
Determining the Type of Professional Liability Insurance to Have	p. 405
Professional Reasons to Choose an Individual Policy	p. 407
Disciplinary Defense Insurance	p. 408
Professional Issues	p. 413
The Nurse and the Contract	p. 415
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 415
Chapter Thoughts	p. 415
Objectives	p. 416
Introduction	p. 417
Anatomy of a Contract	p. 417
Remedies in Contract Disputes	p. 418
Alternative Dispute Resolution	p. 419
Types of Nursing Contracts	p. 422
Conflict Management and the Nurse	p. 435
Key Chapter Concepts	p. 435
Chapter Thoughts	p. 435
Objectives	p. 436
Introduction	p. 436
How Do You Assess Conflict?	p. 436
Steps in Conflict Resolution	p. 438
Alternative Dispute Resolution	p. 439
Communication and Conflict	p. 440
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