Essay On Unsafe Practice

Topic #2
a. In the state of TN, are nurses mandated to report unsafe, illegal, or unethical practices of nursing colleagues or physicians? (Should be in Nurse Practice Act)
Yes, nurses are mandated to report unsafe, illegal, or unethical practices of nursing colleagues or physicians. The RULES OF THE TENNESSEE BOARD OF NURSING, CHAPTER 1000-01-.13(s) UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND NEGLIGENCE, HABITS OR OTHER CAUSE states that it is considered unprofessional conduct and negligence if a nurse, "Fails to report, through proper channels, facts known to the individual regarding incompetent, unethical or illegal practice of any health care provider." Also, 1000-01-.14 STANDARDS OF NURSING COMPETENCE, section 1,B,5 states that nurses should, "Report unsafe practice and unsafe practice conditions to recognized legal authorities and to the Board where appropriate."

b.

In the state of TN, is a nurse required to report victims of domestic violence or interpersonal violence? Does the victim have to consent?
Yes, nurses are required to report victims of domestic violence or interpersonal violence. The nurse should first have reasonable suspicion and a good faith belief that injuries are the result of abuse or neglect. It must be reported with or without the victim's consent. If the nurse fails to report domestic violence or interpersonal violence, they could possibly face disciplinary action by the state board of nursing, a loss of license, and criminal prosecution.
Talk to an ER nurse or ER nurse manager. What types of injuries does TN require be reported to legal authorities?
I spoke with my Cousin, she has been an ER nurse for 20 years. She talked to me about the obvious injuries and incidence like gunshot wounds, stabbings, poisoning, child abuse, and rape. For a more complete list she referred me to Tennessee Code TCA 38-1-101, posted

below.
TCA 38-1-101. Reports to law enforcement officials of certain types of injuries -- Immunity for reporting -- Exception. (a) All hospitals, clinics, sanitariums, doctors, physicians, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists, undertakers, embalmers, or other persons called upon to tender aid to persons suffering from any wound or other injury inflicted by means of a knife, pistol, gun, or other deadly weapon, or by other means of violence, or suffering from the effects of poison, or suffocation, or where a wound or injury is reasonably believed to have resulted from exposure to a methamphetamine laboratory or a methamphetamine related fire, explosion, or chemical release, or appears to be suffering from or to have been the victim of female genital mutilation in violation of § 39-13-110, shall report the same immediately to the chief of police, if the injured person is in or brought into or the injury occurred in an incorporated town or city, or to the sheriff if the injured person is in or brought into or the injury occurred in the county outside the corporate limits of any incorporated town or city, and shall also, in either event, report the same immediately to the district attorney general or a member of the district attorney general's staff of the judicial district in which the injured person is, or has been brought into, or the injury occurred. Such report shall state the name, residence, and employer of such person, if known, such person's whereabouts at the time the report is made, the place the injury occurred, and the character and extent of such injuries.