4223 Professional Nursing Trends

N4223 Health Policy & Legal Aspects Reflective Journal

Name:

Date:

Review: Malpractice and Reflective Questions

According to the American Nurses Association, Standard 15 “the nurse is required to evaluate his or her own practice in relation to professional practice, standards, guidelines, relevant statutes, rules, regulations, organizational policies, and procedures.” Examples of competencies related to this standard include self-reflection and self-evaluation to identify areas of professional growth.

In the first part of this assignment, you are asked to reflect on two specific key points for the course. Then, in Part 2, you will read a fictitious scenario and identify pertinent facts that pose risks for malpractice claims. Each year, nurses make themselves vulnerable for potential malpractice claims because they are not well-informed about malpractice elements. It is imperative you understand malpractice rules, regulations and facts to protect your nursing license.

Performance Objectives:

· Understand the benefits of reflection in professional practice.

· Recognize the importance of BON Rules and Legal protections and its impact on the nursing profession.

· Synthesize module topics into professional growth.

· Malpractice implications for nursing.

· Apply the four elements of a malpractice claim to specific incidents.

Rubric

Use this rubric to guide your Reflective questions and Malpractice table.
Criteria

Complete

Incomplete

Part 1 – 1st Key Point

What did you take away from this course?

2nd Key Point

Describe a TX BON Rule or legal topic and its implications on nursing.

Includes 3 professionally written sentences demonstrating critical thinking

Response includes 3 professionally written sentences demonstrating critical thinking

Response does not include 3 professionally written sentences demonstrating critical thinking

Response does not include 3 professionally written sentences demonstrating critical thinking

Part 2 Malpractice: List four elements of a malpractice claim.

Pertinent Facts: States pertinent facts for each element of a malpractice claim.

Correctly lists all four elements of a malpractice claim.

Correctly lists all four elements of a malpractice claim.

Incorrectly lists all four elements of a malpractice claim.

incorrectly lists all four elements of a malpractice claim.

APA/Professional Writing

Assignment is written clearly without any APA / grammatical or spelling errors.

Assignment is not written clearly and/or has APA / grammatical or spelling errors.

Key points:

1). What did you take away from the malpractice course?

2). Describe a TX BON Rule or legal topic. Choose one from the table below. Explain the implication it has on the nursing profession.

Topics from which to chose

· 217.11 Standards of Practice * Nurse fatigue

· 217.12 Unprofessional Conduct * Texas Peer Assistance (TPAPN)

· 217.16 Minor Incident * Legal Duty to a patient

· 217.19 Incident Based Peer Review and Whistleblower Protections

· 217.20 Safe Harbor * Malpractice

· 217.13 Peer Assistance Program

· Policy and advocacy

· Investigation and discipline

· Boundaries and social media

· Staffing

N4223 Professional Trends

2

Part 1: Reflecting on Course Material

Reflective Questions- type directly into this text box. Three professionally written sentences required for full credit for each Key Point.

Key Point 1:

What did you take away from this course?

Key Point 2:

Explain the topic chosen from the table and its implication for the nursing profession.

Topic Chosen:

Implications:

Part 2: Potential Malpractice Claim

Read this scenario. Decide if the situation presents potential elements of malpractice.

Nurse A was assigned to Mr. Jones, a post-surgical patient on the Medical-Surgical floor, who had been doing well on the day shift. Nurse A was working a 7:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. shift. The attending doctor, Dr. Granger, had screamed at Nurse A last month when Nurse A called him at 3:00 A.M. to report a change in status of another of his patients. During this shift, Nurse A became uneasy about the status of Mr. Jones, which reflected a substantial change in blood pressure and pulse, but Nurse A did not call Dr. Granger, choosing instead to “watch” the situation. At approximately 5:00 A.M., Mr. Jones had to be rushed to emergency surgery with internal bleeding. Now, 1½ years later, Mr. Jones has not recovered from the second surgery.

All 4 elements and 4 corresponding facts must be stated.

4 Elements of Malpractice Claim

State the Pertinent Facts r/t Each One

1

2

3

4

2