Assignment Task:
Mr ABC, a registered nurse (RN) with a previous working history of 25 years with an unblemished record, had been dealing with a patient's family in the Emergency Department after a motor vehicle accident and multi-trauma. ABC was on an evening shift in charge of a busy Emergency Department with 4 ambulances ramped and a department full of patients. The resuscitation bays were also both full. He agreed to look after the patients of another nurse (Ms XYZ - an enrolled nurse who had 10 years' experience), as she left for a meal break.
After a brief handover as XYZ was getting her meal out of her locker,ABC was informed by her that a patient was to be administered Fentanyl IV 100mcg/2mls. The patient, referred to as "BZ", was in Bed 9. The drug was handed to Jones by XYZs in a kidney dish, prior to going on a tea break.
ABC was busy organising other staff for breaks and went alone to the patient into Cubicle 9 and not Bed 9. He went into the cubicle alone and began to administer the fentanyl to the patient as directed by the nurse going on break.
When XYZ returned from her break, she realised ABC was in the process of administering the drug to the wrong person, as he was in Cubicle 9 and not Bed 9. ABC administered half the fentanyl dose prior to being stopped by XYZ and put the syringe back in the kidney dish. BZ had no immediate obvious reaction to the medication. BZ remained unaware of a medication error despite being administered a drug they were not charted.
ABC inveigled the Registered Nurse (Ms Megan), who had originally checked the medication out of the Dangerous Drug (DD) cupboard, and XYZs, not to report the incident.
Initially, XYZ and Megan agreed but then thought better of it and together notified their supervisors which led to an internal investigation.
1. Identify scope of practice issues that relates to the case study
2. Identify the legal aspects of the case with reference to legislation
3. Identify the ethical aspects of the case in relation to nursing codes and standards