What Is The Nurse Guilty Of Professional Misconduct?

A physician was accused of professional misconduct for having his office nurse sign her name to his preprinted prescription forms for medications that the physician prescribed for his patients. The physician did not delegate any medical discretion to the nurse; in fact, it was the physician who determined the type of medication, administration, strength, and other particulars of the prescription the patient was to be given. The state board of nursing charged the nurse with professional misconduct for agreeing to sign these prescriptions.

How should the board of nursing find in such a case? Is the nurse guilty of professional misconduct? Would your answer about the nurse's misconduct differ if the physician is found to have committed professional

To set the context of discussion, background is provided in relation to a professional nurse signing her name to a preprinted prescription form as asked by a physician and its relevance of how the board of nursing should find in such a case. The possible ethical challenges for the nurse is the implication of being charged with professional misconduct. The paper focuses mainly on issues relevant to professional misconduct by the nurse and physician.

Nursing is based on the ethical value of a commitment to promoting well-being by providing competent and compassionate care. Guidelines and codes are beneficial because they state values, obligations and limitations. These guidelines are designed to help nurse's think and resolve ethical and professional questions and issues. The nurse is faced with many legal and ethical dilemmas. One of the professional competencies for nursing states that nurse's should "integrate knowledge of ethical and legal aspects of health care and professional values into

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Cases begin with a complaint of possible professional misconduct made to a state nursing board or another state agency. Investigation. An investigator for the state performs an investigation and the case is either closed or the nurse is charged. Settlement Offers. Most nurses accept settlement offers made by the prosecutors assigned to their cases. A settlement offer specifies penalties that will be imposed in exchange for an admission of guilt. Formal Hearing. When misconduct charges cannot be resolved through a settlement, a formal hearing is convened, often before a panel appointed by the state board of nursing. Guilt is determined by a panel vote. Penalties. Penalties range from a fine to license revocation, and are determined by the state board of nursing. Other penalties may include censure and reprimand, probation, suspension or any combination of these. Education or public service may also be mandated.

In this case I do believe the nurse is guilty of professional misconduct. Even though the nurse generally does what the physician orders this is out of the nurse's scope of practice. The nurse is not licensed to sign prescriptions even though the physician instructed her too. By completing the act and signing the prescriptions for the physician the nurse has committed professional misconduct and can be punished by law. I also believe the physician is guilty of professional misconduct. The physician should have signed the prescription forms himself.