Ethical-legal issues as an Advanced Practice Nurse - Assignment Example

Ethical and Legal Role of an Advanced Nurse Practitioner Ethical and Legal Role of an Advanced Nurse Practitioner Advanced nurse practitioners welcome the dynamic developments in the nursing practice that assist them in the delivery of quality care mainly focusing on the patient (Kjervik & Brous, 2010). A number of challenges however face nurses in establishing these roles in their practices. Particularly, many advanced practitioner nurses struggle with legal and ethical issues that are highly associated with their roles. Mostly., these nurses are viewed to be more susceptible to legal action than other types of nurses due to their increased autonomy and the extended range of activities that they undertake.

Therefore, their liability and accountability levels are unmatchable with those of other nurse practitioners. Further, they act within their competence limits as well as their boundaries limits. Ethics, also referred to as moral laws are mainly concerned with fundamental principles distinguishing between right and wrong, defining what people ought to do. Ethics purposely inform our judgements, offering guidance to individual on making decisions on how to best act in any situation. Westrick & Dempski (2009) observe that accepted ethical theories, practices and frameworks offer guidance on how people ought to act in an ethical manner, and all binds advanced nurse practitioners.

It is an expectation of the advanced practitioners to make their individual judgements about what they perceive as best for their individuals. While making any form of decisions, ethical theories and principles bind their actions. While ethics is broad and offer a brief summary of exactly how they purposively should undertake their actions, advanced nursing practitioners feel that their roles are ethically demanding from their very own nature. Law on the other hand is a system of rules governing a particular society with the main intention of upholding social order, justice system as well as preventing any form of either harm to individuals or public and private property.

Law systems often base their principles on ethical or religious principles. It is the duty of the police as well as the criminal systems such as the courts of law to enforce law in a jurisdiction. Different laws govern the healthcare, which seek to protect the public from any harm from healthcare givers. Therefore, advanced nursing practitioners have to be more knowledgeable on the relevant legislations guiding their actions (Kelly & Tazbir, 2013). ReferencesKelly, P., & Tazbir, J. (2013). Essentials of nursing leadership & management.

Kjervik, D. & Brous, E. N. (2010).Law and Ethics for Advanced Practice Nursing. New York: Springer. Retrieved from http://www.springerpub.com/samples/9780826114587_chapter.pdfWestrick, S. J., & Dempski, K. (2009). Essentials of nursing law and ethics. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.