Organizational Change And Ethical-Legal Influences In Advanced Practice Nursing Case Study

Organizational Change and Ethical-Legal Influences in Advanced Practice Nursing Case Study

This scenario involves a patient, a physician, three nurse practitioners and eight medical assistants. Medical assistants are tasked with answering calls from patients, processing laboratory results, and taking prescription renewal requests from pharmacies and patients. Stephanie is a medical assistant with ten years of experience and is very competent at her job. Mrs. Smith visited the facility for her annual physical checkup. Her last checkup was a year ago. Mrs. Smith had a bottle of amoxicillin and requested a refill. The label on the bottle had the patient’s name, the date of a week ago, and the nurse practitioner’s name as the prescriber. The patient informed the nurse practitioner that she called last week with a complaint of a cough and spoke to Stephanie. Neither the nurse practitioner nor the other prescribers recall discussing Mrs. Smith with Stephanie. Do you need help with your assignment ? Reach out to us at eminencepapers.com.

Potential Ethical and Legal Implications for Healthcare Team Members

Healthcare team members have a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure the safety of patients (Haddad & Geiger, 2022). In this scenario, Mrs. Smith is a patient handled by Stephanie, the medical assistant, a nurse practitioner, and a physician. Every healthcare worker has a code of ethics that governs their practice. Healthcare members who harm the patient or go against their code of ethics are held responsible based on their cadre and the harm caused (Haddad & Geiger, 2022). Medical assistants have a code of ethics and principles. The medical assistant receives calls from patients. Stephanie received a phone call and spoke to Mrs. Smith last week about a cough. As a medical assistant, Stephanie approved and refilled Mrs. Smith’s bottle of amoxicillin without routing the phone call to the nurse practitioner. Stephanie later approved the bottle refill using the nurse practitioners. The medical assistant is allowed to document a medication refill indicating the name of the authorizing practitioner; however, it is an ethical and legal violation to indicate the nurse practitioner’s name on the bottle without authority from the nurse practitioner. Medical assistant job descriptions include picking up patients’ phone calls; however, the authority to refill prescriptions or prescribe medications must be given by a licensed nurse practitioner or physician. Stephanie committed an ethical violation by calling in Mrs. Smith’s bottle for amoxicillin. Although Stephanie has ten years of experience as a medical assistant and is competent at her job, legally, she is still required to seek authorization from the nurse practitioner.

Nurse practitioners have prescribing authority (Zhang & Patel, 2022). Medical assistants working with nurse practitioners take prescription renewal requests from patients and inform the nurse practitioners for approval. The medical assistant refilled a bottle without informing the nurse practitioner. Since the nurse practitioner’s name is on the bottle, the nurse practitioner is responsible for any drug reactions or harm caused by the prescribed drug that might affect the patient. The nurse practitioner’s name on the drug bottle indicates that the nurse practitioner approved and authorized the patient to be given this medication. Mrs. Smith was prescribed amoxicillin for her cough. Amoxicillin can cause severe drug reactions in patients who have a penicillin allergy. If such a reaction had occurred, the nurse practitioner would have been held responsible

A medical director is tasked with recruiting healthcare professionals such as nurse practitioners, physicians, and medical assistants (Bayot & Varacallo, 2022). The medical director is, therefore, aware of the job description of a nurse practitioner and a medical assistant before hiring them. The medical director ensures that every staff member is aware of and understands their job description. The medical assistant could have knowingly approved the patient’s medication using the nurse practitioner’s name or because she did not understand her job description. A medical director ensures that the rights of every staff member are respected. The nurse practitioner should forward an official complaint against the medical assistant to the medical director. The medical director must acknowledge that the nurse practitioner’s rights were violated and the legal repercussions that could have occurred.

Facilities such as hospitals must ensure patient safety (Olejarczyk & Young, 2022). Hospitals that have several cases of patient negligence and harm can have their licenses revoked and hospitals shut down. To avoid such instances, hospitals ensure that they employ competent healthcare workers. Any case of ethical violation caused by a staff member must be addressed, and action must be taken against the specific member.

Strategies to Prevent Further Conflict

Healthcare workers in different cadres must understand their job descriptions before signing an employment contract. Healthcare workers who understand and respect their scope of practice will work well with the other members. There should be an easily accessible avenue for staff members to table their complaints against other staff members without fear. In addition, continuous medical education reminds healthcare workers of their legal and ethical responsibilities (Olejarczyk & Young, 2022).

Leadership Qualities to Effect Positive Change

Transformational leadership ensures that leaders champion healthcare workers’ education, mentorship, and development. Leaders create opportunities for healthcare workers to seek further education and specialize in their areas of interest. Leaders seeking staff members’ opinions can create a positive work environment that translates to good patient outcomes. Leaders must ensure that every staff member is treated fairly regardless of their cadre.

References

Bayot, M.L., & Varacallo, M. (2022). Management Skills. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544227/.

Haddad, L.M., & Geiger, R.A. (2022). Nursing Ethical Considerations. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526054/.

Olejarczyk, J.P., & Young, M. (2022). Patient Rights and Ethics. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538279/.

Zhang, P., & Patel, P. (2022). Practitioners and Prescriptive Authority. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK574557/.

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Question

Week 2: Organizational Change and Ethical-Legal Influences in Advanced Practice Nursing Case Study (Orig Post due Wednesday, Responses due Sunday)
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Purpose
The purpose of this discussion is to discuss organizational changes and ethical-legal influences in a clinical scenario at an outpatient family practice. Students will explore potential effects on patient outcomes and ethical and legal implications for members of the health care team as a result of illegal behaviors. Students will develop strategies that result in the prevention of untoward outcomes that result in a positive practice culture.

Organizational Change and Ethical-Legal Influences in Advanced Practice Nursing Case Study

Activity Learning Outcomes
Through this discussion, the student will demonstrate the ability to:

Demonstrate effective leadership styles in the management of organizational change (CO3)
Interpret various forms of ethical theories and application into practice (CO4)
Discuss practice guidelines and malpractice prevention (CO2)
Due Date: Wednesday by 11:59 PM MST of Week 2
Initial responses to the discussion topic must be posted by Wednesday 11:59 pm MT. Two additional posts to peers and/or faculty are due by Sunday at 11:59 pm MT. Students are expected to submit assignments by the time they are due.

A 10% late penalty will be imposed for discussions posted after the deadline on Wednesday of week 2, regardless of the number of days late. NOTHING will be accepted after 11:59 pm MT on Sunday (i.e., the student will receive an automatic 0).

Total Points Possible: 100
Requirements:
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.

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 as the prescriber printed on the label. 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.

Case Study Questions:
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.
A scholarly resource must be used for each week’s discussion question.
DISCUSSION CONTENT

Organizational Change and Ethical-Legal Influences in Advanced Practice Nursing Case Study