Course Title: Apply legal and ethical parameters to nursing practice

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2013

Course Code: NURS5257C

Course Title: Apply legal and ethical parameters to nursing practice

School: 155T Vocational Health and Sciences

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5313 - Diploma of Nursing (Enrolled-Division 2 Nursing)

Course Contact: Leeanne Mond

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4837

Course Contact Email: leeanne.mond@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

City Campus:

Bundoora Campus:

Nominal Hours: 30

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

NIL PRE REQUISITES  OR CO REQUISITIES

Course Description

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required for an Enrolled/Division 2 nurse to perform within the legal and ethical parameters of professional practice, supporting client rights and meeting duty of care requirements


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

HLTEN509B Apply legal and ethical parameters to nursing practice

Element:

1. Perform within legal and ethical parameters of professional nursing practice
2. Apply an understanding of the legal framework
3. Apply ethical concepts to clinical practice
4. Support the rights, interests and needs of clients and their families
5. Apply open disclosure processes
 

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Apply a clear understanding of legal and regulatory acts/guidelines as they impact on nursing practice
1.2 Address the implications of current legislation as incorporated into nursing practice
1.3 Apply codes of ethics, code of conduct and Enrolled/Division 2 nursing competency standards in nursing practice
1.4 Function within the scope of jurisdictional Enrolled/Division 2 nurse practice
1.5 Handle client complaints sensitively and in line with organisation policies and procedures
1.6 Refer all requests for client information to a registered nurse as per state/territory legislation and organisation policies and procedures

2.1 Work with an understanding of how the law operates in relation to nursing practice with regard to legal processes, principle and penalties
2.2 Accurately apply concepts of negligence, duty of care and vicarious liability to professional practice as an Enrolled/Division 2 nurse
2.3 Apply a clear understanding of the requirement to obtain consent to treatment
2.4 Apply principles of restraint appropriately, with a clear understanding of their intent and use
2.5 Use common legal terms associated with nursing practice with a clear understanding of their meaning and implications for nursing practice
2.6 Apply the legal requirements and expectations in relation to report writing in nursing practice
2.7 Apply mandatory reporting processes in line with jurisdictional requirements
2.8 Apply client privacy and confidentiality practices in line with legislative requirements and organisation policies and procedures
2.9 When referral or request for test is received, ensure nature and requirements of test are correctly identified

3.1 Work with a clear understanding of the concept of ethics and its place in nursing practice
3.2 Demonstrate ethical practice in all interactions with clients, relatives and carers and colleagues
3.3 Identify, document and report any potential ethical issues as and if they arise
3.4 Maintain an awareness of contemporary ethical issues that may impact on nursing practice
3.5 Develop and implement strategies to resolve ethical issues within practice
3.6 Take responsibility for addressing ethical issues and legal requirements in line with own nursing role
3.7 Complete all documentation in accordance with state/territory legislation and organisation policies and procedures
3.8 Monitor compliance with legal obligations and requirements

4.1 Comply with legal responsibilities and duty of care in all care activities and interactions with clients and their families and carers
4.2 Support client rights, interests and decisions
4.3 Encourage the client to exercise their rights to make informed decisions regarding their care
4.4 Demonstrate respect and support for the dignity of clients and their families
4.5 Act as an advocate for client and family in line with jurisdictional Enrolled/Division 2 nurse scope of practice

5.1 Work with an understanding of the principles and processes of open disclosure in a health care environment
5.2 Work with an understanding of the role of open disclosure within own role as an Enrolled/Division 2 Nurse
5.3 Work with an understanding of the roles of other health care workers in relation to open disclosure

Learning Outcomes


At the end of this course the student should be able to:


• Perform within the legal and ethical parameters of professional nursing practice
• Apply an understanding of the legal framework
• Apply ethical concepts to clinical practice
• Support the rights, interests and needs of clients and their families
• Apply open disclosure processes
 


Details of Learning Activities

  •  Facilitated class discussion
  •  Small Group Work
  •  Self Directed Learning
  • Simulation / scenario


Teaching Schedule

Lesson 1: Perform within legal and ethical parameters of professional nursing practice

• Define the legislation governing nursing practice in Australia, including the Health Practitioner Regulation and National Law Act 2009
• Indentify & describe the
- competency standards for the EN
- Code of conduct for nurses
- Code of ethics for nurses
• Define the role, core activities & responsibilities of organisations of professional and industrial organisations for nurses
• Identify any recent changes professional &/or industrial organisations have undergone, and why these have occurred
 

Lesson 2: Perform within legal and ethical parameters of professional nursing practice

• Identify & discuss scope of practice of the EN as outlined in the ANMC EN competency standards
• Identify & describe the decision making framework nurses
• Identify & describe the EN’s roles & responsibilities when handling care recipient complaints
 

Lesson 3: Apply an understanding of the legal framework - Australian Law Part 1

• Discuss Australian law, including the relationship of between healthcare workers & the law
• Discuss the formation & administration of Australian Law, including common pieces of legislation relevant to nurses
• Describe the differences between criminal & civil law, & their associated key terms
• Define assault, battery & negligence, including duty of care
• Define consent, & the legal requirements of a valid consent
• Define restraints, & the EN’s roles & responsibilities when caring for a client requiring physical restraint
 

Lesson 4: Apply and understanding of the legal framework - Australian Law Part 2

• Define mandatory reporting, & discuss the EN’s responsibilities for reporting actual/potential child abuse
• Define ‘notifiable conduct’ of health professionals, & the EN’s responsibilities
• Identify & describe the purposes of legislation & organisational policies & procedures that govern a client’s right to privacy & confidentiality
• Identify & describe the legal requirements of written reports in relation to nursing practice
• Identify & discuss how to ensure the nature & requirements of a referral for a test are correctly identified
 

Lesson 5: Apply ethical concepts to clinical practice

• Define ethics, & the principles of healthcare ethics
• Identify & discuss contemporary ethical issues that may on nursing practice
• Define ethical rules of professional client relationships
• Discuss/describe strategies to resolve ethical dilemmas
• Discuss the importance of advocacy in protecting client rights
 

Lesson 6: Support the rights interests and needs of clients and their families - Life and Death Decisions

• Discuss the Medical Treatment Act 1988,including the patient’s right to refuse treatment
• Discuss issues associated with terminal illness/end of life care, including capacity to make health care decisions, living wills & advanced care directives
• Identify & describe the services provided by the Office of the Public Advocate, & the Victorian Civil & Administrative Appeals Tribunal
• Identify & discuss the roles & responsibilities of the State coroner
• Identify & discuss the EN’s roles & responsibilities in supporting people to make life & death decisions
• Identify & describe the role of the coroner, and how an EN should prepare a deceased client for the coroner
 

Lesson 7: Apply open disclosure processes

• Indentify & describe the principles & processes of open disclosure in the healthcare environment
• Identify & describe the role of the EN in the processes of open disclosure
• Identify & discuss the roles of other healthcare workers in the processes of open disclosure
• Identify & describe the role of the coroner, and how an EN should prepare a deceased client for the coroner
 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

No Prescribed text for this course


References

Recommended reading:
• Crisp, J & Taylor, C 2009 Potter and Perry’s Fundamentals of Nursing, 3edn.Elsevier Sydney
• Funnell, R Koutoukidis, G & Lawrence, K 2009 Tabbner’s Nursing Care 5edn, Elsevier Sydney
• McIlwrath, J and Madden, J 2006, Healthcare and the Law 5edn, Thomaon Reuters, Riverwood Staunton, P and Chiarella, M 2008, Nursing and the Law,6th edn, Elsevier, Chatswood  


Other Resources

Students to access lesson powerpoints from the student Blackboard


Overview of Assessment

Underpinning knowlegefor this unit of competency will be assessed via the following methods:

  • Case studies
  • Written Assessment
  • Clinical Placement


Assessment Tasks

Classroom presentation

written assignment

clinical placement

all assessment will be given out in class and discuss requirements of the assessment


Assessment Matrix

All assessments must have a competency grade to be awarded a competent outcome

All written assessmentsmust have a 60% grade to be deemed competent for this course

  • 60 -69     - CAG
  • 70 - 79     - CC
  • 80 -89     - CDI
  • 90 -100   - CHD

Other Information

Classroom attendance 80% requirement

Clinical placement attendance 100% requirement

Clinical placement is composed of all placements in this phase and need to be deemed competent to be permitted to progress to phase 2 of the program

Delivery : Nominal Hours 30
• Face to face
• Self-directed learning
• Clinical with Logbook assessment
 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview