Legal Issues for Nurse Educators
Maughan, E. (2010). Promotion of school nursing: the role of school nurses. NASN School Nurse, 25(2), 59-60. For example, negligence is a common tort lawsuit against nursing educators. Neglect is reported when a student nurse harms a patient because she does not act as a prudent nurse would react in similar circumstances (Luhanga et al., 2014). Nurse educators may be held responsible for not adequately supervising a student in a clinical setting. Nurse educators can also be held liable if a student injures a patient and the injury is considered foreseeable, or if a student does not meet the standards of practice that other prudent students would meet in a similar situation. If such errors are filed in the prosecution, nursing educators are charged under civil law that administers one person`s offence against another. McSherry, R., Pearce, P., Grimwood, K., & McSherry, W. (2012).
The central role of nursing managers, executives and educators in excellence in care. Zeitschrift für Pflegemanagement, 20 (1), 7-19. The courts have hired nursing educators to teach nursing students proper handwashing techniques, proper use of protective equipment, and proper procedures for handling used needles, among other things. Nursing educators who have questions about their potential responsibilities should consult a lawyer. Ethical practices are based on key values such as diversity, integrity, care and excellence (McSherry et al., 2012). The search for diversity as an ethical value suggests that a nursing educator considers and values human uniqueness. In a learning context, nursing educators should apply different pedagogical approaches to accommodate different learners. Learning styles must take into account the influence of culture and encounters. The equal treatment of all stakeholders is emphasized, including through the inclusion of racial, ethnic, sexual, age and religious equality. Nursing educators should emphasize the value and importance of influences from people from different backgrounds and practices.
The number of students suing their college or program of study has increased significantly. Nursing students are following this trend, and lawsuits against female university teachers and nursing education programs are on the rise. University nursing instructors must be qualified health professionals who are aware of the legal issues associated with their health practice, as well as qualified educators who are aware of the legal issues related to their role as academic nursing instructors. Nurse educators who have questions about possible responsibilities should consult a nursing lawyer. Nursing teachers are required by law to ensure that nursing students do not harm patients or themselves. As health professionals, nursing educators must continually assess the strengths and weaknesses of their students. If educators do not recognize a student who does not meet clinical requirements and the student causes harm, the educator may face legal sanctions and other problems in nursing education. Educators can also be held liable if they are negligent in supervising nursing students or if they assign tasks beyond the students` skill level.
Nursing educators get into legal trouble when students are carelessly instructed or instructed. Educators should supervise students, guide practice, and warn them of possible dangerous situations. To avoid conflict, nursing educators must remain vigilant by: These qualities are essential to communicating appropriate educational, health care and research practices to others. Nursing educators generate new information by conducting an original study of nursing practice and education. Nursing educators play a scientific role. Nurse educators have the authority to oversee scholarship in teaching, exploration, application and integration. Teaching scholarship requires an understanding of the main idea and the ability to share that knowledge appropriately (McSherry, Pearce, Grimwood, & McSherry, 2012). To meet the standards of the Regulatory Council, the nursing teacher must achieve precision, clarity, relevance, originality and diversity.
Dishonest practices by students and new nurses are a major concern for nursing professors because of their potential impact on current and future clinical practice. Some of the strategies for improving dishonest activities include modeling moral problem-solving skills, moral decision-making skills, and designing and implementing a sound professional integrity policy (Clark, 2009). Professors should have strict rules that define what academic dishonesty is and how such behavior can be sanctioned. Lack of faculty consent can lead to an environment that encourages fraud and leads honest students to withdraw and become scammers. However, dealing with students involves many legal and ethical issues that must be handled carefully and comprehensively by nursing educators. With this in mind, this document provides an analysis of the legal and ethical responsibilities of nursing educators who teach in the classroom or clinical setting. This article will also examine the appropriate procedure for students and new nurses in relation to any practice deemed unsafe in a clinical setting. Finally, this document will provide possible guidelines for addressing legal and ethical issues in the clinical field. When teaching nursing students, nursing educators have a responsibility to ensure that students are. At the same time, nursing educators should protect their own legal vulnerabilities by remembering the following advice: Educators must respect a student`s legal rights to privacy under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). To mitigate liability, the nurse should work with the student to ensure the following.
The nursing teacher and student must have a clear understanding of the Nursing Practice Act based on the region of employment. This claim applies because the Nursing Practice Act can be filed in a lawsuit as a standard of care. Therefore, nursing educators need to understand the scope, legal requirements and obligations of nursing teachers and nursing students. Nursing educators should be updated with current standards of practice, particularly in specialized areas requiring evidence-based procedures. Careful monitoring and evaluation of effectiveness should be carried out before a student is assigned a critical task (Luhanga et al., 2014). In some states, nursing students are considered unlicensed providers, so each task is considered a delegated task, opening up registered nurses to the legal issues of nursing education. When students are well prepared for clinical work, nursing educators reduce their legal weaknesses. Teaching is a critical factor in nursing, so training a nursing teacher is a tremendous accomplishment for nurses. A nursing educator is a professional health worker who has professional qualifications and meets nursing standards. The skills of the nurse are crucial because the potential or lack of potential can affect the functioning and goals of faculty and students. Regardless of the work context, whether in the practical context or in the educational institution, nurse trainers and managers train and supervise in this area. Nurse educators play an important role in preparing caregivers and provide the leadership skills needed to advance evidence-based care (Luhanga, Koren, Yonge, & Myrick, 2014).
Part III will examine relevant legal issues related to online learning and distance learning methods. Duquesne University`s Post-Master`s Certificate in Nursing Teaching and Faculty Role provides APRNs with the opportunity to embark on a career as nursing educators and work in nursing schools, universities and colleges. The program allows NPAs to gain teaching experience while studying for the Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) examination. In addition, nursing educators play a collaborative role. Nursing educators are at the forefront of partnering with evolving health systems, regulators and communities. It is important to work with administrators and decision-makers to ensure that training is in line with real-world expectations. The collaboration will help nursing educators demonstrate professional and learning values in practice. These three main roles motivate nursing educators at all stages and in different settings to develop the desirable behaviours of competent nurses and to ensure best practices in nursing practice. When APRNs begin a career as nursing educators, they must be aware of personal legal vulnerabilities and protect themselves and the students they teach. While it is unusual for nursing educators to face legal challenges, they need to understand the potential dangers. NPAs studying the competencies of nursing educators should use curricula focused on legal issues in nursing education in addition to other core courses. At Duquesne University, APRNs have the opportunity to earn an online post-master`s certificate in Nurse Educator and Faculty Role to prepare students to understand legal and ethical issues in nursing education.