Why Is Nursing Law Important

Nursing Laws and Regulations

The public’s ideals of nursing have vastly changed over the last decade as the population expanded their knowledge about the profession. The American Nurses Association defines nursing as “the protection, promotion,... alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations.” Doctor Oz stated that nursing in the past faced the preconceived notion that it is simply bathing and cleaning patients. However, he notes that nurses are patients greatest advocates, which many patients understand after receiving care from a nurse. Nurses are able to provide emotional support to patients and families, while understanding

The Patient’s Bill of Rights outline eight different key areas that pertain to the patient, one of which stating the ability to take part in treatment decisions. By having such laws within the health system, it not only emphasizes the importance of patient autonomy, it also holds medical professionals accountable for actions against these laws, unlike the Schloendorff case. Under these laws, if a healthcare provider were to engage in treatment without a patient’s approval, or even simply touch them against their will, the patient has a case for battery. Regardless of the providers intentions, which is rarely to harm the patient, unauthorized touching is considered a criminal offense. While medical laws have vastly changed over the last decade, they not only provide freedom in choices to a patient, but they also hold professionals and hospitals accountable for their

Because nurses arguably interact with the patients most frequently, it is especially essential nurses limit the information they provide to the family members to only what the patient desires. Disregarding privacy laws can undermine a patient's trust in their provider and ultimately affect the care they receive. In the instance of highly sensitive topics, such as sexual or physical assault, a patient’s ability to disclose this information depends on their level of trust for the healthcare provider. Because nurses devote a lot of their time to each patient, having information disclosed to them about topics such as assault are essential for determining the treatment of the