Ethical implications of disclosure and nondisclosure
scenario:
You are working as an advanced practice nurse at a community health clinic. You unintentionally make an error when prescribing a drug to a patient. You do not think the patient knows that you made the error.
To prepare:
1. Consider the ethical implications of disclosure and nondisclosure.
2. Research federal and state laws for advanced practice nurses. Reflect on the legal implications of disclosure and nondisclosure for you and the health clinic.
3. Consider what you would do as the advanced practice nurse in this scenario including whether you would disclose your error.
4. Review the Institute for Safe Medication Practices website (http://www.ismp.org/) . Consider the process of writing prescriptions, and think about strategies to avoid medication errors.
To complete:
Write a minimum 4-page paper in APA format (excluding cover page and references) that addresses the following:
1. Explain the ethical and legal implications of disclosure and nondisclosure. Be sure to reference laws specific to your state.
2. Describe what you would do as the advanced practice nurse in this scenario including whether you would disclose your error. Provide evidence for your rationale.
3. Explain the process of writing prescriptions and include strategies to minimize medication errors.
4. Include four or more appropriate scholarly sources from the last five years throughout the paper.
Sample Solution
As an advanced practice nurse in this scenario, I have both ethical and legal obligations to consider. From an ethical perspective, it is my responsibility to ensure patient safety by admitting any mistakes that are made and taking the necessary steps to rectify them. From a legal standpoint, I am also obligated to remain compliant with state laws pertaining to informed consent and disclosure of errors. Informed consent requires healthcare providers to give their patients detailed information about the risks associated with treatment so that they can make an informed decision regarding their care (Gonzalez & Baughan 2020). This includes disclosing any errors made by health professionals during medical procedures or treatments so that patients can make decisions based on accurate information.
In regards to this particular situation, I would take full responsibility for my mistake and immediately disclose it to the patient. Although I do not believe they are aware of the error, informing them of what happened is still important in order for them receive proper treatment and follow up care as needed. Furthermore, if there was potential risk involved with administering the wrong medication then it is even more essential that they be informed of any potential adverse effects they may experience due to my error. Additionally, informing the clinic administrators of my mistake in order for them take appropriate action such as potentially revising existing policies or implementing new ones designed reduce medication errors would also be prudent.
To prevent medication errors in the future I plan on following ISMP recommendations which include double-checking medications before administration; using correct abbreviations; being familiar with look-alike sound-alike drugs; avoiding distractions while writing orders; consulting colleagues when unsure; verifying dose calculations before administering medications; keeping a logbook updated at all times, etc (ISMP 2020). By following these guidelines along with other strategies such as utilizing automated systems when available and familiarizing myself with all relevant regulations pertaining medication safety standards, I hope to minimize similar incidents from happening again going forward.
