Elements and Performance Criteria
- Perform within legal and ethical parameters of professional nursing practice
- Apply a clear understanding of legal and regulatory acts/guidelines as they impact on nursing practice
- Address the implications of current legislation as incorporated into nursing practice
- Apply codes of ethics, code of conduct and Enrolled/Division 2 nursing competency standards in nursing practice
- Function within the scope of jurisdictional Enrolled/Division 2 nurse practice
- Handle client complaints sensitively and in line with organisation policies and procedures
- Refer all requests for client information to a registered nurse as per state/territory legislation and organisation policies and procedures
- Apply an understanding of the legal framework
- Work with an understanding of how the law operates in relation to nursing practice with regard to legal processes, principle and penalties
- Accurately apply concepts of negligence, duty of care and vicarious liability to professional practice as an Enrolled/Division 2 nurse
- Apply a clear understanding of the requirement to obtain consent to treatment
- Apply principles of restraint appropriately, with a clear understanding of their intent and use
- Use common legal terms associated with nursing practice with a clear understanding of their meaning and implications for nursing practice
- Apply the legal requirements and expectations in relation to report writing in nursing practice
- Apply mandatory reporting processes in line with jurisdictional requirements
- Apply client privacy and confidentiality practices in line with legislative requirements and organisation policies and procedures
- When referral or request for test is received, ensure nature and requirements of test are correctly identified
- Apply ethical concepts to clinical practice
- Work with a clear understanding of the concept of ethics and its place in nursing practice
- Demonstrate ethical practice in all interactions with clients, relatives and carers and colleagues
- Identify, document and report any potential ethical issues as and if they arise
- Maintain an awareness of contemporary ethical issues that may impact on nursing practice
- Develop and implement strategies to resolve ethical issues within practice
- Take responsibility for addressing ethical issues and legal requirements in line with own nursing role
- Complete all documentation in accordance with state/territory legislation and organisation policies and procedures
- Monitor compliance with legal obligations and requirements
- Support the rights, interests and needs of clients and their families
- Comply with legal responsibilities and duty of care in all care activities and interactions with clients and their families and carers
- Support client rights, interests and decisions
- Encourage the client to exercise their rights to make informed decisions regarding their care
- Demonstrate respect and support for the dignity of clients and their families
- Act as an advocate for client and family in line with jurisdictional Enrolled/Division 2 nurse scope of practice
- Apply open disclosure processes
- Work with an understanding of the principles and processes of open disclosure in a health care environment
- Work with an understanding of the role of open disclosure within own role as an Enrolled/Division 2 Nurse
- Work with an understanding of the roles of other health care workers in relation to open disclosure