Nursing Assistant Certification Course

Week 6: Medical Law and Ethics

Duration: 3 hours

I. Legal Responsibilities and Scope of Practice (1 hour)
   A. Legal Aspects of Nursing Assisting
      1. Liability and negligence
         Example: Negligence occurs when a nursing assistant fails to provide the standard of care expected, resulting in harm to a patient.
      2. Malpractice and its implications
         Example: Malpractice is a type of negligence where a healthcare professional's actions or omissions result in patient injury or harm.
   B. Scope of Practice for Nursing Assistants
      1. Defining the scope of practice
         Example: The scope of practice for nursing assistants outlines the range of tasks and responsibilities they are legally allowed to perform.
      2. Importance of adhering to the scope of practice
         Example: Staying within one's scope of practice ensures that nursing assistants provide safe and competent care while avoiding legal consequences.

II. Confidentiality and HIPAA (1 hour)
   A. Importance of Confidentiality in Healthcare
      1. Patient privacy and trust
         Example: Maintaining confidentiality fosters trust between patients and healthcare providers, encouraging open communication and effective treatment.
      2. Legal and ethical obligations
         Example: Healthcare providers have both legal and ethical obligations to protect patient information and maintain confidentiality.
   B. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
      1. Overview of HIPAA regulations
         Example: HIPAA is a federal law that establishes standards for protecting patient health information and ensuring the privacy and security of electronic health records.
      2. Nursing assistant responsibilities under HIPAA
         Example: Nursing assistants must follow HIPAA regulations by not disclosing protected health information (PHI) without proper authorization and ensuring the security of patient records.

III. Ethical Principles in Healthcare (1 hour)
   A. Principles of Medical Ethics
      1. Autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice
         Example: Autonomy is the principle that respects patients' rights to make their own healthcare decisions, while beneficence involves promoting the patient's well-being.
      2. Application of ethical principles in nursing assisting
         Example: Nursing assistants should respect patients' autonomy by providing necessary information and support, enabling them to make informed decisions about their care.
   B. Ethical Dilemmas and Decision-Making in Healthcare
      1. Common ethical dilemmas faced by nursing assistants
         Example: A nursing assistant may face an ethical dilemma when a patient refuses treatment that the healthcare team believes is in their best interest.
      2. Strategies for ethical decision-making
         Example: When facing an ethical dilemma, nursing assistants should consider the relevant ethical principles, seek guidance from supervisors or colleagues, and prioritize the patient's best interests.

Upon completing Week 6, students will have a strong understanding of their legal responsibilities, scope of practice, and the importance of confidentiality and ethics in healthcare. This knowledge will enable them to navigate complex situations and provide high-quality, ethical care as nursing assistants.