Assessment Task 2: You are working as an EEN at Sunnyside Day Respite Centre on a morning shift. You have had six clients come in for care today one of whom is Mrs Jocelyn Davis. She is a regular client at the Respite Centre and has been diagnosed with moderate dementia.
At 1030 hours Mrs Davis becomes agitated and begins to wander around the Respite Centre. The Registered Nurse in charge of the shift, RN Jolie, tells you to restrain Mrs Davis in her chair with a lap restraint. You are not certain that Mrs Davis needs to be restrained and you question RN Jolie’s order. RN Jolie becomes annoyed at your question and tries to restrain Mrs Davis herself.
Mrs Davis verbally objects to being restrained and attempts to undo the restraint. In the process her chair tips over, she hits her head on the floor and loses consciousness. While RN Jolie attends to Mrs Davis you call the ambulance.
After Mrs Davis is taken to hospital RN Jolie tells you to say that Mrs Davis was found after she had fallen and hit her head if anyone asks you about what happened to her. RN Jolie also tells you not to say anything about restraining Mrs Davis as you will both get into trouble. You know that this isn’t true but she is your Registered Nurse and you reluctantly agree to do this.
Mrs Davis dies in hospital two days later. The Coroner has been notified by the hospital and her death is to be investigated by the Coroner’s Court.
When you hear about what is to happen following Mrs Davis’ death you are unsure and become worried about what you should do now.
a.Discuss the following legal and ethical issues in relation to this Case Study:
a.Consent, restraint, assault and battery
b.Duty of care, negligence and vicarious liability
c.Scope of practice (the legal and professional boundaries imposed upon you as a nurse)
d.Advocacy (the nurse’s role as an advocate for the client)
e.Documentation
f.Open disclosure
g.The Coroner
b.Using a moral and ethical decision making model (such as DECIDE) discuss the ethical issues raised in this Case Study: