Topic 5,6 Legal Aspects of Nursing Practice Acts - NPA
Topic 5,6 Legal Aspects of Nursing Practice Acts - NPA
Topic 5,6 Legal Aspects of Nursing Practice Acts - NPA
• State-based
• Separate license required for each state!
• Challenged by changes in health care delivery
Certification
• A practice validating- an individual has met
minimum standards of competence in a specialty
area.
Standards of care
• Purpose
o Provides client with complete information prior to
obtaining agreement by client to accept a course of
treatment or procedure
– The IC is the record of the IC, not the IC itself
IC
• Types
• The types of advance health care directives are the living will and the health care
proxy or surrogate
- The living: Specific instructions about what medical treatment the client chooses to
omit or refuse (e.g., ventilatory support) in the event that client is unable to make
decisions.
- The health care proxy, (A durable power of attorney for health care) is a certified or
witnessed statement appointing someone else (e.g., a relative, trusted friend) to
manage treatment decisions when client is unable to do so.
Do-Not-Resuscitate, DNR
• Responsible for own action, and liable for their own acts of negligence
• Function within scope of education, job description and NPA
• Follow procedures and policies
• Ask for additional help or supervision in situations they feel inadequately
prepared
• Comply with the polices and definitions of responsibility supplied by the
school of nursing.
Discussion