Are you interested in pursuing a career in a very strong field that is expected to boast strong job prospects throughout the coming decade? Do you enjoy helping others and making a positive difference in their lives? You may want to consider a career as a nurse practitioner. Unlike nurses, nurse practitioners must pass through advanced education and training and must earn a master's degree. With all these added requirements in the training process, nurse practitioners also have greater degree of freedom, flexibility and discretion in terms of working with patients. As the aging members of the baby boom generation continue to age and require medical attention, they will increasingly turn to nurse practitioners for affordable medical service. If you do opt to pursue a career in this field, it is important that you are aware of legal and ethical issues for nurse practitioners.
It is very important for a nurse practitioner to fully inform patients of the risks and complications that can arise as a result of various procedures. It is vital to then obtain proper signatures before proceeding to any procedures. If all appropriate signatures are not obtained, the nurse practitioner can be held liable for damages. It is absolutely crucial that a nurse practitioner have the mindset of documenting everything. Every single checkup, procedure, drug administration and prescription given should be accurately documented and placed on the record of the right patient. If these items are not documented properly or there is a mistake in patient records, the nurse practitioner can be liable for damages and face serious legal consequences. Based on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, patient records and personal information must be kept private. It is important for nurse practitioners to follow this standard in order to avoid legal issues. Finally, it is critical for nurse practitioners to be fully focused and alert at all times to avoid medical errors. Prescribing the wrong medicine or dosages can come back to mean legal issues for nurse practitioners. As for the ethical issues faced by nurse practitioners, it is important for professionals in this field to properly educate patients regarding all components of the health care process.
urse practitioners, like all other professionals in the health care industry, face serious legal and ethical issues. If you are pursuing a career in this field, you will learn more in-depth about these important issues during your training and education. Most importantly, nurse practitioners must always be fully focused and alert to ensure that all regulations are properly followed and medical errors minimized.
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