Reference no: EM132690989
Assignment -
A well experienced RN has been working in an Aged Care Facility for the past four years. A complaint was made to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia alleging that:
The RN was on duty when a resident became short of breath and the son had request an ambulance transfer to hospital.
There was a delay of up to 45 min before the patient was given oxygen. That the RN had failed to perform a comprehensive assessment of the resident, attend to her needs in a timely fashion, or to comprehensively document her observations or treatment of the resident.
The family stated that the RN had behaved in a way that was discourteous and insensitive when dealing with their concerns, including commenting to another health professional in their hearing clearly stating that the resident was 'on her way out'.
When sending the resident to hospital, the RN referred to the large amount of paperwork that needed to be done before the ambulance arrived. The second complaint alleged:
The RN behaved in a manner thought to be discourteous and insensitive towards the family of a second resident when dealing with their care concerns.
When they had requested that a dirty commode be removed and cleaned, she was reported to have responded 'You do what you have to do'.
How does this scenario cause you to think about -
a. Your own and the groups professional and ethical conduct.
b. The enablers to reporting unprofessional/unethical behaviour and the strategies that would be most effective to handle these.
a. Your own and the groups professional and ethical conduct
Examples of ethical behaviours in the workplace includes; obeying the company's rules, effective communication, taking responsibility, accountability, professionalism, trust and mutual respect for your colleagues at work. These examples of ethical behaviors ensures maximum productivity output at work.
So construct a paragraph of the ethical conduct we all believe in
- This would be basically referencing all things from ICN main points and also find an article on nursing ethical conduct.
- Also talk about the effects the poor communication and behaviours the nurse displayed would and could have on the family, patient and colleagues.
b. The enablers to reporting unprofessional/unethical behaviour
The enablers would be the definition of why you want to report So, You'd report this behaviour as patients and family have a right to receive
- Ethical and holistic care
The behaviours and mannerisms the nurse was displaying are not ethical and holistic, reporting this behaviour would bring attention to this via management and address the limitations displayed.
(Reference the ICN codes and or standards that address ethical and holistic care)
- Duty of Care
As a nurse we have a duty of care (find a definition of this and address is) The way the nurse cared for and treated the patients and family were along the lines of misconduct due to her lack of care and attention. Nursing assessments should have been undertaken in a timely manner etc.
(Reference the ICN codes and or standards that address duty of care or something along the lines)
and the strategies that would be most effective to handle these.
Strategies would be
- The reporting process
- How to deal with whistleblowing effects
Enablers are what help you to do something. Things like a no-blame culture, a reporting system that allows anonymity, knowing what is expected through clear policies, nursing standards, codes of practice. Good social and emotional intelligence will allow you to be objective. Keeping good records so you report only the facts, and so on.
Barriers would be the opposite to the above but also becoming personally involved, trying to find excuses for the nurse's behaviour, a sense of loyalty to the nurse, and so on.
There are a number of strategies which have been covered in the course.
Attachment:- Scenario and Questions Assignment Files.rar