1. Legal Aspects of Nursing
Chapter 4

2. Nurse Practice Acts (NPA)
Define and describe scope of nursing practice
Control practice through licensing
Where can you find our state’s
Nurse Practice Act?

3. Standards of Care
Protect the consumer
Drives policies/procedures

4. Selected Nursing Legal Responsibilities
Informed consent
Delegation
Violence, abuse, neglect

5. Informed Consent
Purpose
Essential elements
Exceptions
Nurses role

6. Delegation
“The transfer of responsibility for the performance of an activity from one person to another while retaining accountability for the outcome.”
(American Nurses Association, 1997)
Responsibility for action or inaction remains with the nurse.

7. Violence, Abuse, & Neglect
Violent behavior can indicate abuse
Neglect
Absence of necessary care
Mandated report

8. Advanced Health Care Directives
Allow persons to specify aspects of care they wish to receive if unable to make decisions
Patient Self-Determination Act
Includes life sustaining measures

9. Do-Not-Resuscitate When client or proxy wishes for no resuscitation
Goal of treatment is comfortable, dignified death
Further life sustaining measures are not performed

10. Incident Reports
Agency record of an incident or unusual occurrence or accident
Purpose is to alert risk management
Priority is client assessment & prevention of injury

11. QUESTIONS???