Solicitation by Defense Counsel, Essay Example

In this unit, I learned that there are many challenges that nurses face when working with specialized population groups that have an impact on their care and treatment. This requires a delicate balance so that these patients are treated with the required protocols, while also adhering to specific guidelines that have legal precedent within nursing practice (Williamson & Daw, 2013). There are limitations to the level of care that many patients receive, particularly when they are from vulnerable populations; therefore, these issues must be addressed in a timely fashion to prevent long-term vulnerabilities that could impact quality of life for these patients (Stiffman et.al, 2010).

In my own experiences with vulnerable populations, I have learned that there are many risks that require specific attention to detail to prevent harm to these persons. With exposure to these groups, it is likely that I will gain knowledge that will guide me in my efforts to work with and treat vulnerable populations that require my full attention and focus as I move forward with my nursing career. With these experiences, I will be fully prepared to manage the tasks that are required and to develop a greater understanding of the issues that are most relevant to my patients as they require care and treatment.

Exercise 4.1: Nurses might not seek representation from the hospital attorney because they are not guilty of any wrongdoing, they do not want to waste these services, they have other representation, or they will defend themselves as necessary. On the other hand, they may seek assistance if they feel that they might be found guilty of wrongdoing, they cannot afford representation on their own, they require the full support of the institution to prove their innocence, and they might have an issue that a hospital attorney is best suited to represent. In these cases, ethical issues may arise that require further consideration should have hospital attorney representation to cover all bases of the case and to recognize the importance of developing a strategy that will support the desired outcomes (Temkin et.al, 2013).

Exercise 17.4: Medication errors as committed by nurses are a serious problem that may pose a risk to patients (Tzeng et.al, 2013). Therefore, it is important to identify the nurse’s potential liability in a lawsuit that involves an allergic reaction to medication. The primary defense in this case may be a strong prior record that proves the nurse’s strengths and capabilities in treating patients in an effective manner. This supports the nurse’s defense that he or she does not routinely make medication errors and that mistakes are bound to happen. This defense is critical because it impacts how the nurse is able to defend herself when a negative response occurs that leads to a lawsuit. This process requires the nurse to defend her actions in the event that a lawsuit takes place by exploring her own record and how she has performed in the past, as these factors will impact how the lawsuit is likely to play out in court.

I have learned with this simulation that there are many legal and ethical issues that must be addressed in nursing practice on a continuous basis and that require a long-term approach to minimize errors in judgment and protocol that could pose risk or harm to patients under some conditions. Ethical principles must be in place at all times within nursing practice; therefore, it is important to develop a strategy that will enhance the opportunities that are available to nurses to achieve the desired results through their adherence to all required standards and protocols on a continuous basis. These factors will ensure that as I move forward in my nursing career, I am taking my role seriously at all times and am prepared to manage my responsibilities in an effective manner that will support my own growth and success as a professional nurse.

References

Stiffman, A. R., Stelk, W., Horwitz, S. M., Evans, M. E., Outlaw, F. H., & Atkins, M. (2010). A public health approach to children’s mental health services: Possible solutions to current service inadequacies. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 37(1), 120-124.

Temkin, B. R., & Stone, M. H. (2013). Solicitation By Defense Counsel: Ethical Pitfalls When Corporate Defense Counsel Offers Representation To Witnesses. Defense Counsel Journal, 363.

Tzeng, H. M., Yin, C. Y., & Schneider, T. E. (2013). Medication error-related issues in nursing practice. MedSurg Nursing, 22(1).

Williamson, T., & Daw, R. (2013). Law, Values And Practice In Mental Health Nursing: A Handbook: A Handbook. McGraw-Hill International.