NR 506 Week 2 Discussion: Organizational
Change and Ethical-Legal Influences in
Advanced Practice Nursing Case Study
Case Study Questions:
1. What are the potential ethical and legal implications for each of the following practice
members?
• Medical assistant: Medical assistants have many tasks that are in their scope of practice,
but they are not licensed to prescribe medication. They have an ethical obligation to treat
patients within their scope of practice. Regrettably, this medical assistant acted outside
her scope of practice by filling a prescription without the Nurse Practitioners knowing.
NP’s and physicians are responsible and liable for medical assistants working within the
practice. The medical assistant has an ethical duty to practice within their scope, this
includes calling in prescriptions, but only as ordered and approved action by an NP or
physician (Medical Assistant Scope of Practice, 2016). For the patients’ safety, the medial
assistant can lose her license if reported.
• Nurse Practitioner: has a moral and legal commitment to report the medical assistant for
prescribing medications by forging a prescription in their name.
• Medical Director: must utilize strict regulations within the practice pertaining to medical
conduct. This can be done with in-person or online. Education that each employee must
sign off on. Roles need to be clear-cut; it is imperative for the Medical Director to
acknowledge the close relationships between the patients and providers, but at the same
time alter the performance within their practice to adhere that all parties that are involved
takes responsibilities and improve protocols to prevent this behavior from reoccurring.
• Practice: The Practice must assign punishment to the medical assistant such as
terminating and legal action to prevent reoccurrence of this incident. If the practice could
theoretically be closed due to illegal conduct if there are a certain number of reports to
the medical board.
2. What strategies would you implement to prevent further episodes of potentially illegal
behavior?
As an advanced practice nurse (APN), a part of the nurse leader’s task is to guarantee that each staff
members comprehend their individual duties in fulfilling the tasks and that all procedures are in place to
support the work (Chamberlain College of Nursing, 2017). However, in this case study the office did not
have any policies or procedures for staff regarding this matter to follow as it related to non-urgent
demand from patients concerning their prescriptions. The quality improvement strategies that I would
execute as an APN in this practice to safeguard my role, I would meet with the providers in the practice
and create policies and procedures regarding patients request for prescriptions. According to Farmer and
Lundy, nurse providers at every level are held responsible for promoting a culture of safety when caring
This study source was downloaded by 100000847795904 from CourseHero.com on 05-31-2022 12:59:23 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/66642736/Week-2-Organizational-Change-and-Ethical-Legal-Influences-in-Advanced-Practice-Nursing-Case-Studydo/
Change and Ethical-Legal Influences in
Advanced Practice Nursing Case Study
Case Study Questions:
1. What are the potential ethical and legal implications for each of the following practice
members?
• Medical assistant: Medical assistants have many tasks that are in their scope of practice,
but they are not licensed to prescribe medication. They have an ethical obligation to treat
patients within their scope of practice. Regrettably, this medical assistant acted outside
her scope of practice by filling a prescription without the Nurse Practitioners knowing.
NP’s and physicians are responsible and liable for medical assistants working within the
practice. The medical assistant has an ethical duty to practice within their scope, this
includes calling in prescriptions, but only as ordered and approved action by an NP or
physician (Medical Assistant Scope of Practice, 2016). For the patients’ safety, the medial
assistant can lose her license if reported.
• Nurse Practitioner: has a moral and legal commitment to report the medical assistant for
prescribing medications by forging a prescription in their name.
• Medical Director: must utilize strict regulations within the practice pertaining to medical
conduct. This can be done with in-person or online. Education that each employee must
sign off on. Roles need to be clear-cut; it is imperative for the Medical Director to
acknowledge the close relationships between the patients and providers, but at the same
time alter the performance within their practice to adhere that all parties that are involved
takes responsibilities and improve protocols to prevent this behavior from reoccurring.
• Practice: The Practice must assign punishment to the medical assistant such as
terminating and legal action to prevent reoccurrence of this incident. If the practice could
theoretically be closed due to illegal conduct if there are a certain number of reports to
the medical board.
2. What strategies would you implement to prevent further episodes of potentially illegal
behavior?
As an advanced practice nurse (APN), a part of the nurse leader’s task is to guarantee that each staff
members comprehend their individual duties in fulfilling the tasks and that all procedures are in place to
support the work (Chamberlain College of Nursing, 2017). However, in this case study the office did not
have any policies or procedures for staff regarding this matter to follow as it related to non-urgent
demand from patients concerning their prescriptions. The quality improvement strategies that I would
execute as an APN in this practice to safeguard my role, I would meet with the providers in the practice
and create policies and procedures regarding patients request for prescriptions. According to Farmer and
Lundy, nurse providers at every level are held responsible for promoting a culture of safety when caring
This study source was downloaded by 100000847795904 from CourseHero.com on 05-31-2022 12:59:23 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/66642736/Week-2-Organizational-Change-and-Ethical-Legal-Influences-in-Advanced-Practice-Nursing-Case-Studydo/
