What Legal Issues Should Nurses Know About While Practicing?

It is no secret that nursing is a challenging profession to be in. With no fixed hours and little time for yourself, it is no wonder that you hear cases of burnout in this field. What’s more, they are not even given enough credit for the services that they provide. Moreover, it is equally challenging to pass its exams or clear PhD exams. If you need assistance with composing a paper, you can seek nursing dissertation help.

In this article, you will discover what are some legal issues that all nurses must be aware of. It will help them to protect themselves and avoid any punishments, either in the form of penalties or suspension. But before we jump the gun, let's first understand the importance of nursing.

Importance of Nursing

Although this section needs no introduction, you must know that nurses are a vital cog in the medical industry. Without them, it will crumble to dust. However, let's see its importance in detail anyway.

Direct Patient Care and Advocacy

• Nurses are the primary form of contact with patients as they spend the most time with them.
• They assess their needs, provide treatments, and also emotional care.
• Moreover, they also act as advocates for patients, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights preserved.
• Health Aid and Disease Prevention
• Nurses play a critical part in educating patients and their families about health and treatments.
• They assist with exercise, nutrition and screenings.
• Moreover, they also protect the patients from getting infected by any diseases and also manage chronic conditions.
• Main Part Of the Healthcare System
• Nurses also collaborate with other professionals, such as doctors, social workers, and therapists, to provide care to patients.
• They also convey all the essential details related to patients' conditions and how they are responding to the treatments.
• Additionally, they contribute to the overall planning and care of patients.
• Addressing Needs and Challenges
• The demand for nurses will increase in the future due to the increase in the ageing population and the rise in healthcare needs.
• Moreover, they also play a vital role in extending their services to underprivileged communities.
• They also play a crucial role in educating about health crises like COVID-19.
• Professionalism and Improvement
• Nurses need to continually upgrade their skills to stay current with the evolving healthcare landscape.
• They also need to stick to moral principles and grab the highest care for patients.
• Moreover, this profession requires compassion, critical thinking and dedication to patients' well-being.

These are all the key points that summarise the significance of the nursing profession. If you need more details, you can always get help from the experts at the Assignment Desk.

Legal Issues That Nurses Should Know About

In this section, you will see what are some legal issues that all the nurses should know about. It will help them to prepare themselves for any situation that may arise during the course of their tenure. So, let's see them in detail.

• Malpractice

The meaning of this term is professional negligence by a healthcare provider, which also includes nurses. The end result is harm to the patients. If they are not careful, they can be sued for not following standard care practices, and as a result, a patient may be injured.

• Documentation

It is crucial to have accurate and complete documentation when you are in the nursing profession. Moreover, it is paramount to document all the patient's assessments and how they respond to the treatments. It offers accountability and prevents them from any legal actions.

• Informed Consent

Nurses play a vital role in getting informed consent from patients before beginning their treatments or procedures. Therefore, it is their duty to ensure that all patients are informed about the risks, benefits, and alternatives to the prescribed treatments and that consent is obtained without coercion.

• Confidentiality

All nurses have a legal and moral obligation to maintain the confidentiality of all patient-related details and preserve their patients' privacy. They must disclose any facts related to the patients without their consent, except in cases where such disclosure is required by law or regulation.

• Perimeter of Practice

It is a thumb rule that all nurses must practice within the scope of their education and license. Moreover, they should only perform tasks they are competent in doing and have adequate knowledge about. If they work outside their scope, they will face legal implications.

• Patient's Rights

All the nurses in the medical profession must respect and preserve the rights of patients. These rights may include the right to autonomy, informed decision-making, and dignity. Moreover, it is their duty to advocate for the people's rights under their care and provide treatment in a manner that respects their values, cultures, religious and personal faiths.

• Workplace Safety

All the nurses are entitled to a workplace that is safe and healthy. The employers are under a legal duty to provide an environment where there is adequate staffing, proper equipment, and all the modes to protect against any violence and injuries in the workplace.

• Whistle-blowing

It is the duty of all nurses to report unethical or illegal practices in the system. Those include patient abuse, fraud, or breaking of laws and regulations. However, individuals of this kind may face backlash from employers, so it is vital to learn about legal laws and reporting mechanisms.

• End-of-Life Care

Medicine is a profession where people lose their lives daily. Therefore, it is essential that all nurses are prepared to make informed decisions related to end-of-life care. It may include withholding life-sustaining treatments, palliative care, and advance instructions. So, it is vital to navigate these issues while taking into consideration the patient's wishes.

• Professional Boundaries

It is vital that nurses maintain professional boundaries with their colleagues, patients and other members of the healthcare system. If they cross this line, there can be legal implications of misconduct, sexual harassment or violation of moral conduct.

So, these are all the rules that every person working in the medical profession must be aware of. If you have any problems in writing a paper on this topic, you can always seek master dissertation help.

Other Consequences of Negligence In Nursing

Although you saw what are the consequences that a nurse will encounter if he/she fails to perform any of the rules mentioned above. But let's see what some basic consequences they might face.

• The board of nursing may decide to suspend or revoke your license, and you will not be able to practice medicine.
• If the nurses fail to perform their duties properly, they may also asked to pay a large sum of money as compensation.
• In extreme cases of negligence or intentional injury, they may also face imprisonment.
• Lastly, even after serving a sentence or paying penalties, their reputation may take a serious hit, and it will become a challenging task to get another job.

Conclusion

So, this is all about the legal implications that a nurse can face if they are not careful while performing their duties. If you read them carefully, you will be able to protect yourself from any unnecessary harm. If you need assistance regarding composing a paper on this topic, you can always seek nursing dissertation help. The experts will furnish you with a document with all the essential details.