NURS 341 Final Exam 1 Study Guide. Latest 2023.Ch. 1
Standards of Care
- A standard of care is a minimally accepted action expected of an individual
... [Show More] of a certain
skill or knowledge level and reflects what a reasonable and prudent person would do in a
similar situation. Professional standards from regulatory agencies, state or federal laws,
nurse practice acts, and other specialty groups regulate nursing practice in general
Ethicolegal Issues
- Ethical nursing care includes the basic principles of autonomy (self, making own
decision), beneficence (making good), nonmaleficence (not harm), justice (fairly),
veracity (honest), and fidelity (loyalty).
- Parents and guardians generally make choices about their child’s health and services. As
the legal custodians of minor children, they decide what is best for their child.
Legal Issues related to patient and families – there are many parts related to this.
- The pediatric nurse must balance these ethical components when dealing with families
from a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds who are making health care
decisions for their children. The process is as follows:
Identify the problem -> Gather information about the problem -> Weigh the risks against
the benefits -> Choose a solution -> Implement the solution -> Evaluate the outcome of
the situation.
- Minor children (younger than age 18 years) must have their parents or legal guardians
provide consent for health care in most cases.
- Mature minor: The physician must determine that the adolescent (usually older than 14
years of age) is sufficiently mature and intelligent to make the decision for treatment.
- Emancipated minor: Membership in a branch of the armed services; Marriage; Courtdetermined emancipation; Financial independence and living apart from parents;
Pregnancy; Mother younger than 18 years of age
- Special situation: If the parent is not available, then the person in charge (relative,
babysitter, or teacher) may give consent for emergency treatment if that person has a
signed form from the parent or legal guardian allowing him or her to do so.
- During an emergency situation, a verbal consent via telephone may be obtained. Two
witnesses must be listening simultaneously and will sign the consent form, indicating that
consent was received via telephone. Physicians can provide emergency treatment to a
child without consent if they have made reasonable attempts to contact the child’s parent
or legal guardian
- In urgent or emergent situations, appropriate medical care should never be delayed or
withheld due to an inability to obtain consent.
- Assent refers to the child’s participation in the decision-making process about health
care. The pediatric patient needs to be empowered by physicians to the extent of their
capabilities, and as children mature and develop over time they should become the
primary decision maker regarding their health care.
- Advance directives determine the child’s and family’s wishes should life-sustaining
care become necessary. Life-sustaining care may include antibiotics, chemotherapy, [Show Less]