Ethical And Legal Implications
You are a family nurse practitioner working in an outpatient primary care office of a large hospital system. The practice has been operating for over 15 years, and many of the administrative and clinical staff were hired when the practice opened. You have been in the practice for less than 3 months. In that short amount of time, you have witnessed several of the clinical staff engaging in heated arguments with each other, sometimes in patient areas. You overhear an argument occurring today between two staff. You pick up a patient's chart and notice a very low blood pressure that the medical assistant failed to notify you about. When you confront the MA, she states that she was going to report the vital signs to you when she became engaged in the heated argument you overheard and forgot to notify you.
Unfortunately, this pattern of behavior is not unusual in this practice. Working with staff who cannot cooperate effectively can negatively influence your ability to spend time with patients, can impede the flow of patients through the office, and could impact patient safety.
Case Study Responses:
Analyze the case study for potential issues for members of the healthcare team from office conflict. Contrast the potential effects for each member of the healthcare team based on the required readings from the week. Discuss 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 dangerous patient outcomes?
What leadership qualities would you apply to effect positive change in the practice? Focus on the culture of the practice.
Sample Solution
Analysis of Case Study: Office Conflict and Patient Safety
Potential Issues:
The case study highlights several potential issues arising from office conflict:
- Patient Safety: Delays in communication due to arguments can lead to missed diagnoses or medication errors.
- Reduced Quality of Care: Constant conflict can create a stressful environment, hindering staff's ability to focus on delivering quality patient care.
- Decreased Staff Morale: A hostile work environment can lead to burnout, absenteeism, and high staff turnover.
- Negative Patient Experience: Witnessing arguments can create anxiety and distrust in patients.
Full Answer Section
Effects on Healthcare Team:- Medical Assistant (MA):Constant conflict can lead to job dissatisfaction, stress, and potential disciplinary action.
- Nurse Practitioner (NP):Inefficiencies due to conflict can increase workload and stress for the NP.
- Medical Director:The director may face increased administrative burden in addressing staff conflict and potential patient complaints.
- Practice:The practice could face legal ramifications due to potential patient safety issues and a high turnover rate.
- MA:Failing to report critical findings like vital signs is a breach of patient care standards and could be considered negligence.
- NP:The NP has an ethical obligation to advocate for patient safety and address any concerns regarding communication breakdowns.
- Medical Director:The director has a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure a safe work environment and patient care standards are met.
- Practice:The practice is liable for ensuring staff competency and a culture that prioritizes patient safety.
- Team Building Activities:Promote collaboration and communication through workshops or social events.
- Conflict Resolution Training:Equip staff with the skills to address disagreements constructively.
- Open Communication Policy:Encourage staff to voice concerns openly without fear of retribution.
- Clear Staff Roles and Expectations:Define responsibilities and communication protocols to avoid misunderstandings.
- Performance Management:Address unprofessional behavior consistently and fairly.
- Patient Safety Protocols:Implement clear guidelines for reporting critical findings like vital signs.
- Transformational Leadership:Inspire staff to work towards a shared vision of high-quality patient care.
- Situational Leadership:Adapt your leadership style to individual staff needs and development levels.
- Servant Leadership:Focus on staff well-being and create a supportive work environment.
- Open Communication:Maintain regular communication channels to address concerns and foster trust.
- Lead by Example:Demonstrate respectful and professional behavior in all interactions.