HSC_NUR 3003 - Legal & Ethical Issues

Using expert interviews and illustrative scenarios, this program provides a solid introduction to the fundamental ethical terms and concepts that nursing trainees need to know. It clearly defines justice, fidelity, autonomy, moral distress, and other touchstones of ethical practice. The video also explores the vital role that personal values play in ethical situations, how to best understand and address value conflicts, the importance of a nurse’s self-regard, and key steps to sound, ethical decision-making. Viewers learn about the JCAHO mandate that health care institutions address ethical issues related to patient care. Utilizes the ethical codes of the American Nurses Association, the Canadian Nurses Association, and the International Council of Nurses.

Focusing on the first provision of the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics, this program presents short scenarios and commentary from health care professionals to illustrate key knowledge points. Viewers are familiarized with the central concept of respect. The video explores the importance of establishing positive relationships with patients, offering practical ways that nurses can show respect and emphasize human dignity in their work. Other vital concepts include factors of diversity, a patient’s right to self-determination, and end-of-life issues. The program clearly describes the nurse’s role in supporting patient autonomy, informed consent, and the practice of extending respect beyond patients to one’s colleagues as well.

Highlighting the second provision of the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics, this program focuses on aspects of nursing pertaining to commitment. It emphasizes the role of the nurse as patient advocate. Through engaging on-screen scenarios and expert interviews, the video addresses the primacy of patient interests and the nurse’s role as a moral agent who will invariably make the patient’s welfare an overriding priority. Viewers also receive a thorough grounding in avoiding conflicts of interest, respecting professional boundaries, and taking the proper actions or channels when the wishes of the patient clash with others. Explores the importance of collaboration in the workplace while maintaining personal commitment and a productive, professional focus.

Exploring the third provision in the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics, this program looks at confidentiality standards mandated under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) as well as the role of ethics in medical research. The video also addresses the proper methods for reporting unethical, illegal, or impaired practices. With help from illustrative scenarios and expert interviews, viewers learn about the importance of patient privacy and confidentiality and various ways that nurses can successfully advocate for their patients, including those who might participate in research. Also covered: review mechanisms and the role of an ethics committee.

This article addresses the legal and ethical issues that nurses need to understand when they are involved in the provision of palliative sedation in the United States.

It is commonly assumed that, in the realm of ethical decision making at the end-of-life, 'luck' and 'risk' do not intrude. Nonetheless 'moral luck' (where happenstance makes a moral difference) does intrude and can have an unanticipated impact on the ultimate moral outcomes of end-of-life care.

This article provides an overview of decision-making capacity in the palliative care population, while clarifying common barriers to capacity at the end of life, and offering considerations for appropriate involvement of psychiatric consultants in this process.

This article presents a discussion of the use of palliative sedation in response to intractable (not responsive to treatment) existential suffering.

The aim of this study was to explain the role of patient advocacy in the Advance Care Planning (ACP-ing) process.

Clinicians and surrogates can be faced with challenging decisions when a patient loses the capacity to participate in medical decision making. This commentary article discusses how to balance the best interest of the patient and avoiding significant negative emotional impact on the surrogate.