NR510 Week 4 discussion Leadership and Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse
Organizational Change and Ethical-Legal Influences in Advanced Practice Nursing Case Study
NR510 Week 4 discussion Leadership.You are a family nurse practitioner employed in a busy primary care office. The providers in the group include one physician and three nurse practitioners. The back office staff includes eight medical assistants who assist with patient care as well as filing, answering calls from patients, processing laboratory results and taking prescription renewal requests from patients and pharmacies. Stephanie, a medical assistant, has worked in the practice for 10 years and is very proficient at her job. She knows almost every patient in the practice, and has an excellent rapport with all of the providers.NR510 Week 4 discussion Leadership
Mrs. Smith was seen today in the office for an annual physical. Her last appointment was a year ago for the same reason. During this visit, Mrs. Smith brought an empty bottle of amoxicillin with her and asked if she could have a refill. You noted the patient’s name on the label, and the date on the bottle was 1 week ago. You also noted your name printed on the label as the prescriber. The patient admitted that she called last week concerned about her cough and spoke to Stephanie. You do not recall having discussed this patient with Stephanie nor do the other providers in the practice.NR510 Week 4 discussion Leadership
Discussion Question:
What are the potential ethical and legal implications for each of the following practice members?:
Medical assistant
Nurse Practitioner
Medical Director
Practice
What strategies would you implement to prevent further episodes of potentially illegal behavior?
What leadership qualities would you apply to effect a positive change in the practice? Be thinking about the culture of the practice.
NR510 Week 4 discussion Leadership Answer
The scenario at hand presents numerous ethical and legal concerns for various members of the healthcare team. Specifically, the actions of the medical assistant in prescribing medication to Smith without informing nurses or physicians raise substantial ethical issues. Furthermore, falsely attributing the prescription to the author raises both ethical and legal red flags, potentially tarnishing the reputation of the healthcare facility and placing the medical practitioner’s job in jeopardy.NR510 Week 4 discussion Leadership
Considering the gravity of the situation, the unauthorized prescription compromises the integrity of the healthcare facility and undermines the credibility of the nurse practitioner and medical directors, as they are responsible for overseeing proper medical practices within the facility. This breach of protocol by the medical assistant not only jeopardizes patient safety but also erodes the trust patients place in the healthcare system.NR510 Week 4 discussion Leadership
In addressing this delicate matter, a thorough investigation is paramount. I would initiate a conversation with Stephanie to understand the reasons behind her actions and emphasize the ethical and legal implications. Based on the guidance provided by Kartha et al. (2014), the importance of clear communication and adherence to established protocols will be emphasized during this discussion. Stephanie would be cautioned against such actions and informed that consultation with other authorized healthcare professionals is mandatory in case of unavailability.NR510 Week 4 discussion Leadership
Failure to rectify such ethical breaches could not only lead to legal consequences but may also compromise the quality of patient care. Therefore, it is imperative to address these issues promptly and ensure that the healthcare team operates within the ethical and legal boundaries, safeguarding both patient well-being and the reputation of the healthcare facility.
