Nursing: Ethical and Legal Implications of Prescribing Drugs (Essay Sample)

Nursing: Ethical and Legal Implications of Prescribing Drugs
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Ethical and Legal Implications of Prescribing Drugs
Every profession has ethics that guide its operations. Under nursing professions, ethics dictate the character of nurses and provide a guideline on how to serve people. Most importantly, ethics and legal laws play an integral role in nursing since it helps in setting strategies to counter nursing challenges and implications (Arcangelo, Peterson, Wilbur, & Reinhold, 2017). Nursing practitioners usually have varying directives in the medical field; therefore, it is critical to understand the ethical and legal implications associated with drug prescriptions. The first phase in observing the legal laws under the nursing discipline is education, knowledge is critical in the field of medicine (Fastovsky, n.d.). Extensive knowledge will help nurses in contacting correct patient interviews and direct them on the correct diagnosis. This paper will examine the ethical and legal implications of prescribing drugs using a case scenario.
Case Scenario and Analysis
The case scenario involves a 72-year-old male who is in ICU and unresponsive. He has undergone a stroke and his wife and daughter are keeping him company in the hospital. The wife has informed me that she does not have advanced directives. Advanced directives are an expression of taking action in case of an unprecedented event. If something occurs, advanced directives help the involved stakeholders to take action according to the wishes made. There is a conflict between his wife and daughter. For example, the daughter of the patient is optimistic that his father would come out of the comma. On the other hand, the wife believes his husband would not want to be on a ventilator. The Maryland law allows only certified health practitioners to provide prescriptions. The conflict between the mother and daughter can be solved by an attorney (Fastovsky, n.d.). However, the law in Maryland states that the wife has the obligation of making the decision in such a situation. It is legally right to allow the mother to make decisions regarding her husband. Moreover, it will be unethical to override the wishes of her daughter.
Strategies to Address Disclosure and Nondisclosure in the Case
Nurses usually have access to patients’ information; therefore, it is illegal to have unauthorized disclosure of information according to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Firstly, it is important to be guided by the American Nurses Code of Ethics to handle the disclosure and nondisclosure (Arcangelo, Peterson, Wilbur, & Reinhold, 2017). It will help in determining the right time to disclose information to patients to family members. Secondly, the American Nurses Code of Ethics will play role in solving nursing issues in a legal way (Brown, 2013). Nurses can address disclosure by consulting with the top leaders in the hospital. For example, health legal departments in the hospital can help solve the dilemma in such situations.
Strategies to Guide Decision Making
Firstly, it is significant to evaluate the needs of the patient. Understanding the needs of patients will help in making sound and right decisions as an advanced nurse. Secondly, it is important to determine the financial status of the stakeholders (Duquesne University, 2020). For instance, can the patient afford a certain prescription? If not, is there another alternative to solve the issue? This kind of information will help in solving prescription issues both legally and ethically. Honesty and integrity are ot