Ethical Principles, Legal Standards, and Patient Advocacy in Nursing | Chapter 6 from Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-PN Examination (7th Edition)

Ethical Principles, Legal Standards, and Patient Advocacy in Nursing | Chapter 6 from Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-PN Examination (7th Edition)

Book cover

Welcome to Chapter 6 of the Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-PN Examination (7th Edition) by Linda Anne Silvestri and Angela E. Silvestri. This chapter delivers an essential overview of the ethical and legal responsibilities that underpin safe, effective, and accountable nursing care. For practical nurses preparing for the NCLEX-PN, a solid grasp of these principles is crucial for both the exam and real-world practice.

Watch the full chapter summary below, and subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for more NCLEX-PN study guides and expert breakdowns:

Core Ethical Principles in Nursing

Understanding foundational ethical principles empowers nurses to make sound clinical decisions:

  • Autonomy: Respecting the patient’s right to make informed choices about their own care.
  • Beneficence: Acting in the best interests of the patient to promote well-being.
  • Nonmaleficence: Avoiding harm and ensuring safety in all interventions.
  • Justice: Ensuring fairness and equality in patient care and resource allocation.
  • Fidelity: Keeping promises and maintaining trust with patients and colleagues.
  • Veracity: Being honest and transparent in communication and documentation.

The nurse’s role as a client advocate means applying these values in every patient interaction and clinical decision.

Resolving Ethical Dilemmas and Advocacy

Ethical dilemmas in healthcare are often complex and require careful navigation:

  • Consult ethics committees for guidance on challenging cases or conflicts of interest.
  • Prioritize clear, compassionate communication with patients and families.
  • Act as an advocate, ensuring patients’ wishes and rights are respected.

Legal Frameworks: Laws, Standards, and Regulations

  • Nurse Practice Act: Defines the legal scope and standards of nursing in each state.
  • Standards of Care: Professional benchmarks that guide safe, competent practice.
  • Negligence and Malpractice: Understand definitions, real-world examples, and how to avoid liability through diligent practice and documentation.
  • Professional Boundaries: Maintain appropriate relationships with clients to avoid legal risk.

Patient Rights and Legal Protections

Safeguarding client rights is a legal and ethical mandate:

  • HIPAA: Maintain strict confidentiality of client information and adhere to privacy regulations.
  • Informed Consent: Ensure patients (or legal guardians) fully understand and agree to care and procedures, including special considerations for minors.
  • Advance Directives: Know the legal requirements for living wills, durable power of attorney, and DNR orders.
  • Patient’s Bill of Rights: Promote autonomy, dignity, and participation in decision-making.

Legal Risks and Professional Accountability

  • Assault, Battery, False Imprisonment, Invasion of Privacy: Learn definitions, examples, and how to avoid these common legal pitfalls.
  • Incident Reporting: Document all unusual events or errors accurately, without blame or judgment.
  • Documentation: Use clear, factual, and timely records to support safe care and protect against legal challenges.
  • Floating Assignments and Staffing: Recognize your limits and communicate when assignments are outside your scope.

Mandatory Reporting and Safety Standards

  • Report suspected abuse, impaired coworkers, communicable diseases, and unsafe workplace conditions as required by law.
  • Follow OSHA regulations and institutional policies for safety and risk prevention.
  • Use professional liability insurance for protection in practice.
  • Maintain appropriate use of social media and client information to avoid HIPAA violations.

Get the complete details and real-life examples by watching the video above, and join the Last Minute Lecture community for more in-depth NCLEX-PN chapter reviews!

Conclusion: Practicing Legally and Ethically as a Nurse

Chapter 6 of Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-PN Examination (7th Edition) gives you the ethical foundation and legal knowledge needed for safe, confident, and accountable nursing practice. By understanding principles like autonomy, beneficence, and fidelity—alongside key legal frameworks and reporting duties—you’ll be ready to advocate for clients and uphold the highest standards of the profession.

If you enjoyed this summary, subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for more chapter-by-chapter nursing exam reviews and expert study support.

If you found this breakdown helpful, be sure to subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for more chapter-by-chapter textbook summaries and academic study guides.

Explore the full YouTube playlist for Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-PN Examination (7th Edition) here: Complete Playlist

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Behavior Therapies & Evidence-Based Practice — Chapter 9 Summary from Systems of Psychotherapy

Image
Behavior Therapies & Evidence-Based Practice — Chapter 9 Summary from Systems of Psychotherapy Chapter 9 of Systems of Psychotherapy: A Transtheoretical Analysis explores the robust field of behavior therapies, which focus on changing maladaptive behaviors through practical, empirical methods. These approaches, grounded in learning theory and continuous assessment, have become foundational in treating a range of psychological conditions. This expanded summary, based on our podcast-style breakdown of Chapter 9 , highlights the key techniques, theoretical foundations, and clinical applications of behavior therapy. Want a concise video guide? Watch the chapter summary above and subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for more psychology study resources! The Foundations of Behavior Therapy Behavior therapy focuses on observable, measurable changes in behavior rather than probing unconscious processes. Using empirical methods, therapists continuously assess and adjust treatmen...
Read more

Cognitive & Rational-Emotive Therapies — Chapter 10 Summary from Systems of Psychotherapy

Image
Cognitive & Rational-Emotive Therapies — Chapter 10 Summary from Systems of Psychotherapy Chapter 10 of Systems of Psychotherapy: A Transtheoretical Analysis explores the evolution and techniques of Cognitive Therapy (CT) and Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). Developed by Aaron Beck and Albert Ellis, these therapies target the root of emotional distress by challenging and changing maladaptive thought patterns. This in-depth summary, based on our podcast breakdown of Chapter 10 , explains the major concepts, therapeutic techniques, and clinical impact of these cognitive-based approaches. Watch the chapter summary above and subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for expert textbook guides and psychology study resources! The Foundations of Cognitive Therapy & REBT Cognitive therapies emerged in response to limitations of psychoanalysis and behaviorism, emphasizing the role of thoughts in shaping emotions and behaviors. Aaron Beck’s Cognitive Therapy and Albert E...
Read more

Materials Failure: Fracture, Fatigue, and Creep — Chapter 8 Summary from Callister’s Materials Science and Engineering

Image
Materials Failure: Fracture, Fatigue, and Creep — Chapter 8 Summary from Callister’s Materials Science and Engineering Chapter 8 of Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction by William D. Callister, Jr. and David G. Rethwisch explores the primary failure modes in engineering materials: fracture, fatigue, and creep. This chapter is essential for anyone interested in the reliability, durability, and safety of materials used in engineering structures and components. By understanding these mechanisms, engineers can design safer, longer-lasting products and infrastructure. Watch the full podcast-style summary below, and subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for more clear, chapter-by-chapter breakdowns of foundational STEM topics! Fracture: Ductile vs. Brittle Failure Ductile fracture involves significant plastic deformation and energy absorption prior to failure. It usually provides visual warning signs, making it the preferred mode in most engineering applications. I...
Read more