STANDARDS OF PRACTICE
Topic #1
What would you do?
As a nurse, I would first take my time to understand patients’ needs by reviewing their medical charts and understanding their medical history. Also, I would proceed to have a look at their medication to try and understand why my colleagues allowed them to continue drinking while in the hospital. Besides, I would work on making the patient understand the effects of alcohol on their treatment strategies and well-being.
What is your accountability (responsibility) in this situation?
In this situation, I would seek the necessary assistance from my supervisor in time to ensure that the patient gets essential help. Also, I would share knowledge with my colleagues to meet th medical requirements of the client. It would be crucial to ensure that the institution follows the guidelines and legislations of the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), which prohibits patients from taking alcohol or any other drug that could affect their response to medication. Besides, I would take up the responsibility of reporting my colleagues that support the client’s habit of drinking alcohol in the hospital. Also, nursing professional standards require nurses to ensure the best possible clinical outcomes by reducing patient’s exposure to more severe health challenges.
Give your reason and rationale for your answer.
All nurse practitioners are accountable to the public and hold the responsibility of ensuring that their actions and behaviour meet the nursing profession’s regulations and standards. Also, nurses are responsible for carrying out their daily tasks to enhance respect for the nursing profession. However, as much as nurses are not liable for their colleagues’ actions, the nursing profession holds them responsible for not reporting activities that jeopardize the lives of the patients. Ethically, nurses have to promote the factors that contribute to the overall well-being of patients. In this case, integrity, professionalism and honesty ensure that nurses respect the wishes of the client as long as they do not affect their overall health while undergoing medication.
Topic #2
What would you do?
Before teaching, I would
identify a personal support worker (PSW) who is interested in learning and safely performing the injection. Also, I would first assess the degree of blood sugar changes of the patient over a certain period by going through their medical chart. Also, I would identify the possible challenges that can arise if the PSW administers the insulin hormone as well as the resources that come in handy if the need arises. An analysis of the specific factors that affect a patient will help me determine if it is appropriate for the PSW to provide injections.
What is your accountability (responsibility) in this situation?
Nurses are responsible for delegating tasks and accepting delegations from their supervisors. Since, as a nurse, I can transfer the functions that I am authorized to perform, I am responsible for teaching the PSW to administer insulin injections to the patient. In sub-delegation, I cannot delegate the task of preparing the PSW to offer vaccinations to my colleagues or any of the medical staff within the institution. Besides, I have to make sure that the diabetes is well controlled such that the patient can receive the same dosage of insulin daily.
Can you teach the PSW to give the injection?
I will teach the PSW how to administer insulin injections to the patient. The Regulated Health Profession Act of 1990 allows PSW to carry out tasks such as insulin injection that the patient has to receive daily. Since the client gets a similar dose of insulin daily, as a nurse, I can delegate the needles to a PSW as much as they do not have the legal right to perform some controlled acts. Nurses who transfer medical actions are liable for delegating the activities. Thus, the delegation process can be written or oral since it is essential to keep a record of the delegation.