HLT54121 – Diploma of Nursing (R3)

Assessment Information 

About the Assessment: The objective of this assessment is for you to demonstrate the skills and knowledge required to work within legal and ethical parameters in professional nursing practice, including supporting rights and meeting duty of care requirements.

Assessment Task:  Questioning - Written answers to questions: Ethics Scenarios

Task Description: 

For this assessment, you are required to answer fourteen (14) questions based on seven (7) scenarios which present a range of legal and ethical issues in nursing practice. The responses to the questions for each scenario must demonstrate your ability to:

• respond appropriately and sensitively to complaints.
• apply principles of restraint including correct intent and application of restraint.
• use and interpret common legal terms associated with nursing practice.
• identify and describe ethics and its place in nursing practice.
• identify contemporary ethical issues and potential conflicts of interest.
• develop and implement strategies to resolve ethical issues within own enrolled nursing practice

You must complete the written assessment as per the following guidelines:

• All questions must be completed to a satisfactory level to be given an “S” (Satisfactory) result.
• Questions not completed satisfactorily will be given an “NS” (Not Satisfactory) result
• If an extension is required, the student must request it in writing at least 3 days prior to the assessment taking place
• The student must reference according to the Nursing APA 7^th edition referencing guide. If there is no attempt at referencing the assessment will be marked NS and returned to the student for resubmission.
• The student must use the prescribed textbooks as a first choice of reference

Questions

Scenario 1:

Melissa is a 35-year-old lady that has been trying to get pregnant naturally for 10 years and has now decided to go to her GP to discuss IVF treatment. She really wants a girl and has asked if it is possible to choose the sex of the embryo before it is implanted.

1. 

Melissa has become pregnant with twins and finds out through amniocentesis at 16 weeks, that one of the twins has a genetic abnormality. She has requested to terminate the affected foetus 

Scenario 2:

You are providing home care services for David a 55-year-old man who is on the transplant list for new lungs as a result of severe emphysema from smoking. You visit him in his home to complete care needs – showering and personal hygiene due to him being extremely short of breath on exertion. When you walk into his apartment you smell cigarette smoke. He admits to having the odd cigarette due to stress and will give up once he gets his new lungs. He tells you not to say anything as he will be struck of the transplant list.

Scenario 3:

Jodi has a child who has leukaemia he is on the waiting list for a bone marrow transplant with the Tissue Registry. His parents decide to have another baby who could possibly donate bone marrow to their son.

Scenario 4. A child has been admitted to hospital quite unwell and is requiring a blood transfusion. The family’s religion is Jehovah’s Witness and they are refusing for their child to have the blood transfusion however if the child does not receive the blood transfusion it will compromise their health.

In cases where there is a conflict between parties in relation to what is in the best interest of the person receiving care that cannot make their own decisions the Guardianship Board may need to be involved.

Reading internet search: Victorian Legal Aid: Guardianship Orders

Scenario 5: Katijah is from a regional province in Afghanistan and has migrated to Australia with her husband and children 12 months ago. Katijah has never been to a hospital, and she cannot speak or understand English. Her husband interprets for her and provides the answers in response.

Scenario 6: A nurse working on your shift has had her mother admitted to your ward for treatment.

Reading: ICN – International Council of Nurses – Code of ethics for nurses

Scenario 7: You are caring for an elderly client who has severe dementia, he is wandering into other residents’ room, and becomes aggressive. The personal care worker rushes up to you and asks if he can be given something to calm him down or can we shut him in his room, as she is getting stressed having to deal with him.

Research and readings: Department of health and aged care: Types of restrictive practices &

National Safety and Quality health care service standards Action 5.35

Given the varied ethical dilemmas an Enrolled Nurse may experience, you will need to reflect on strategies to assist you to resolve them.

Research and readings: Tabbner’s Nursing Care: Ethical issues and Moral Dilemma’s & Ethical decision making. Page 48