Question

The physician order’s o.o5 mg of Lanoxin elixir Po daily for a baby. A nurse makes a medication error of administering 0.5 mg and the patient goes in to cardiac arrest. That nurse must now go before the ethics committee. The nurse is faced with a discussion of the code of ethics for nursing.

1. Discussion: Describe the nursing practice that is consistent with the code of ethics for nursing and decide where the nurse violated the code.

2. Discuss nursing practice that could have prevented the error.

Answer 1

1. Nurses must work hard to cultivate the dispositions of character that invite the public's trust. The ethical tradition of nursing is self-reflective, enduring, and distinctive.

Nursing practice that is consistent with the code of ethics :-

Delivers care that protects healthcare consumer autonomy,dignity,rights,values and beliefs

-Recognizes patient and family as members of healthcare team

-Upholds confidentiality within legal perameters

-assist in consumer's informed decision making

-maintains professional boundaries, theraputic and professional healthcare

-contributes to sloving ethical issues

-takes appropriate action in instances of legal,unthethical or inappropriate behavior that can endanger health of patient

-speaks up against appropriate practice for safety and quality

--advocates for equalitable healthcare

#. Ethical issues in nursing practice

Common ethical issues encountered by nurses in daily practice include cost-containment issues that jeopardize patient welfare, end-of-life decisions, breaches of patient confidentiality, and incompetent, unethical, or illegal practices of colleagues.

2. Nursing practice that could have prevented the error include :-

• Prepare medications for one person at a time

• Follow the six rights of medication administration

• Check the medication to the MAR 3 times

• Use at least two patient identifiers and review the patient's allergies whenever administering a medication

• Do not allow any other activity to interrupt administration of medication to a

• Double-check all calculations and other high-risk medication administration processes (ex. insulin and heparin) and verify with another nurse

• Do not interpret illegible handwriting; clarify with prescriber

• Question unusually large or small doses

• Document all medications as soon as they are given