ETHICAL AND LEGAL FOUNDATIONS OF PMHNP CARE
Advanced practice nursing in all specialties is guided by codes of ethics that put the care, rights, duty, health, and safety of the patient first and foremost. PMHNP practice is also guided by ethical codes specifically for psychiatry. These ethical codes are frameworks to guide clinical decision making; they are generally not prescriptive. They also represent the aspirational ideals for the profession. Laws, on the other hand, dictate the requirements that must be followed. In this way, legal codes may be thought to represent the minimum standards of care, and ethics represent the highest goals for care.(Ethical and Legal Foundations of PMHNP Care Across the Lifespan Nursing Essay)
For this Discussion, you select a topic that has both legal and ethical implications for PMHNP practice and then perform a literature review on the topic. Your goal will be to identify the most salient legal and ethical facets of the issue for PMHNP practice, and also how these facets differ in the care of adult patients versus children. Keep in mind as you research your issue, that laws differ by state and your clinical practice will be dictated by the laws that govern your state.(Ethical and Legal Foundations of PMHNP Care Across the Lifespan Nursing Essay)
RESOURCES
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
TO PREPARE
· Select one of the following ethical/legal topics:
o Autonomy
o Beneficence
o Justice
o Fidelity
o Veracity
o Involuntary hospitalization and due process of civil commitment
o Informed assent/consent and capacity
o Duty to warn
o Restraints
o HIPPA
o Child and elder abuse reporting
o Tort law
o Negligence/malpractice
· In the Walden library, locate a total of four scholarly, professional, or legal resources related to this topic. One should address ethical considerations related to this topic for adults, one should be on ethical considerations related to this topic for children/adolescents, one should be on legal considerations related to this topic for adults, and one should be on legal considerations related to this topic for children/adolescents. (Ethical and Legal Foundations of PMHNP Care Across the Lifespan Nursing Essay)
Ethical and Legal Foundations of PMHNP Care Across the Lifespan Nursing Essay
PMHNPs encounter various situations in practice that require some form of decision-making that contradicts the existing legal or ethical viewpoints. In one way or the other, clinical decisions must be made to protect clients and promote positive health outcomes. For this discussion, I evaluate veracity’s legal and ethical facets in mental healthcare. I also discuss the differences in the legal and ethical facets of how veracity varies between mental healthcare between children and adults.(Ethical and Legal Foundations of PMHNP Care Across the Lifespan Nursing Essay)
Veracity refers to providing accurate, comprehensive, and objective information to the client. Veracity is crucial in fostering the relationship between a client and healthcare personnel as trust is cultured (Amer, 2019). Veracity involves being willing to provide clients with accurate information rather than offering false reassurances, which can lead to misplaced trust or a perceived lack of honesty. In some cases, however, the need to uphold veracity is determined by the client’s clinical status and age, leading to ethical and legal concerns.(Ethical and Legal Foundations of PMHNP Care Across the Lifespan Nursing Essay)
Typically, veracity establishes an interplay between nonmaleficence and autonomy, which some patient conditions and cultures affect. For instance, some cultures associate mental health issues with taboos, and some patients and their families cannot accept such diagnoses (Gopalkrishnan, 2018). In such cases, a client may reject diagnosis and interventions, which could lead to poor health outcomes. Besides, there is a need for informed consent when dealing with older patients and the same from parents or individuals with legal authority when dealing with pediatric clients (Amer, 2019). Therefore, PMHNPs should provide a significant way of upholding veracity and preventing adverse health outcomes.
Furthermore, the legal consideration in veracity is the patient’s right to be informed about their health. Patients have the legal right to be given accurate and understandable information to promote informed decisions across their lifespans (American Nurses Association, 2015; Olejarczyk & Young, 2019). In this regard, PMHNPs should find moral ways of giving patients information and assist them in evaluating the risks and benefits of the available interventions.(Ethical and Legal Foundations of PMHNP Care Across the Lifespan Nursing Essay)
References
Amer, A. B. (2019). The ethics of veracity is important in medical ethics. Open Journal of Nursing, 9(2), 194-198. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojn.2019.92019(Ethical and Legal Foundations of PMHNP Care Across the Lifespan Nursing Essay)
American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. Available at: https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/code-of-ethics-for-nurses/ (Accessed 13 September 2022)
Gopalkrishnan, N. (2018). Cultural diversity and mental health: Considerations for policy and practice. Frontiers in Public Health, 6, 179. https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffpubh.2018.00179
Olejarczyk, J. P., & Young, M. (2019). Patient Rights and Ethics. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538279/ (Accessed 12 December 2022)(Ethical and Legal Foundations of PMHNP Care Across the Lifespan Nursing Essay)
FAQs
What are the ethics of a psychiatric mental health nurse?
The ethics of a psychiatric mental health nurse encompass a commitment to promoting the well-being and dignity of individuals with mental health issues. These nurses adhere to principles of beneficence by providing competent and compassionate care, respecting autonomy by involving patients in treatment decisions, and upholding confidentiality to protect sensitive information. Additionally, they maintain integrity by advocating for patient rights, addressing disparities, and avoiding any form of discrimination, while continuously seeking to enhance their own professional competence and staying informed about evolving best practices in psychiatric care.(Ethical and Legal Foundations of PMHNP Care Across the Lifespan Nursing Essay)
- Informed Consent and Autonomy: Psychiatric nursing can involve complex treatment decisions, such as medication choices and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Balancing the patient’s right to autonomy and informed consent with their mental health condition can be challenging, especially when they may lack capacity to make rational decisions.
- Patient Dignity and Stigmatization: Maintaining patient dignity and preventing stigmatization is crucial in psychiatric nursing. The power dynamics between patients and caregivers, coupled with societal stigma around mental illness, can lead to breaches in confidentiality and discrimination, undermining the therapeutic relationship.(Ethical and Legal Foundations of PMHNP Care Across the Lifespan Nursing Essay)
- Restraints and Coercion: The use of physical restraints or coercive interventions raises ethical concerns in psychiatric care. Striking a balance between ensuring patient safety and avoiding unnecessary harm while respecting their rights can pose dilemmas for psychiatric nurses, particularly when dealing with agitated or potentially violent individuals.(Ethical and Legal Foundations of PMHNP Care Across the Lifespan Nursing Essay)
What are ethical issues in mental health treatment?
Ethical issues in mental health treatment encompass concerns such as informed consent, confidentiality, and the potential for coercion. Ensuring that patients fully understand their treatment options, risks, and potential outcomes is crucial. Respecting patient privacy while balancing the need to share information with other healthcare professionals is another challenge. Additionally, maintaining the patient’s autonomy and avoiding any form of forced or involuntary treatment are important ethical considerations in mental health care.(Ethical and Legal Foundations of PMHNP Care Across the Lifespan Nursing Essay)
What is an ethical dilemma in mental health nursing?
An ethical dilemma in mental health nursing refers to a complex situation where a nurse encounters conflicting moral principles or values while providing care for individuals with mental health conditions. It could involve balancing a patient’s autonomy and right to refuse treatment with their safety and well-being, navigating issues of confidentiality when a patient poses harm to themselves or others, deciding whether to involve family members in treatment against a patient’s wishes, or addressing cultural and religious considerations that may impact treatment decisions. Resolving such dilemmas requires careful consideration of ethical principles, legal obligations, and the best interests of the patient.(Ethical and Legal Foundations of PMHNP Care Across the Lifespan Nursing Essay)
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