For each scenario:
- Explain which element of negligence each scenarioillustrates.
- Determine and describe the violation to the code of ethics innursing.
Scenario 1:
“Have you seen Jane lately? She usedto be so neat and clean but for the past several months she doesn’tseem to care about her appearance,” stated Polly.
“I worked with Jane this week and sheseemed in a daze most of the shift,” replied Tom.
“If I didn’t know better, I wouldthink Jane was taking drugs or something,” Polly commented.
“Drugs! Not Jane, she would never take drugs. I’ve known Janefor four years. She’s an excellent nurse,” Tom replied, “Besides,Jane certainly doesn’t look like a drug user. She’s probably justtired from working the night shift, or maybe she’s having somepersonal problems. We all deal with our problems differently.”
Scenario 2:
“Sally, do you have a minute? I needto talk to you about something I witnessed last week,” askedDave.
“Of course, what is it?” repliedSally.
“I was working extra last week andabout 9 pm. I answered a patient’s call light for Joe. The patienttold me she wasn’t getting any relief from the pain medication thatJoe had administered over an hour ago. When I found Joe, he wascoming out of the bathroom with a syringe in his hand. I asked Joewhat he was doing with the syringe in the bathroom. Joe seemednervous telling me he was getting ready to give some Demerol to thesame patient who was complaining of unrelieved pain.
When I told Joe, I had just talked tothe patient and she supposedly had already had the pain medication,he became upset and asked me why I was questioning him. He didn’ttalk to me the rest of the night. I don’t know if it meansanything, and I don’t want to cause a problem for Joe, but I justhave a feeling that something isn’t right,” Dave said.
Scenario 3:
“Wow, you seem unusually wiredtonight,” Carol said.
“I know. Mark and I were at a party. Ialmost didn’t make it on time,” explained Megan.
“Whose party was it?” asked Carol.
“Oh, an old friend of ours was in townso about 12 of us met at Randy’s,” Megan continued.
“Isn’t that a bar?” asked Carol.
“Yes, I probably had one too manydrinks, but I’m fine. I can hold my liquor as well as anybody. I’lljust drink more coffee tonight!” Megan said proudly.
“Wow you seem unusually wiredtonight,” Carol said.
“I know. Mark and I were at a party. Ialmost didn’t make it on time,” explained Megan.
“Whose party was it?” asked Carol.
“Oh, an old friend of ours was in townso about 12 of us met at Randy’s,” Megan continued.
“Isn’t that a bar?” asked Carol.
“Yes, I probably had one too manydrinks, but I’m fine. I can hold my liquor as well as anybody. I’lljust drink more coffee tonight!” Megan said proudly.
