An explanation of whether NPs should treat family members.
Treating patients or family members include prescribing diagnostic tests, diagnosing and prescribing treatments (drug or other treatment plans). Some states are allowing Nurse practitioners (Nps) or care providers to provided treatments to family members only in emergency situations and some allow with written record of an exam and treatment is needed (Midlevel U: The Online Hub for Midlevels, 2013).
Buppert (2004), suggests that NPs should review the laws governing in his/her state and not to prescribe controlled medications to family, coworkers, and friends: as this will be a red flag to pharmacist, other legal teams, and organizations to keep an eye on the prescriber.
What are the ethical dilemmas in this situation?
In this week case study, the Mother who is a NP should know better not to prescribe an antibiotic. The mother did a mistake not wearing her six thinking hats: she went ahead and gave her daughter treatment without any evidences of strep infections, such as fever, throat/tonsils (exudates, edema, erythema,), tender lymph nodes, or positive strep test (Buttaro, Trybulski, Polgar Bailey, & Sandberg-Cook, 2013). The mother also should have known that her daughter’s situation is an emergency: her daughter pain symptoms could have been treated with over the medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen Tylenol, others (Buttaro, et al., 2013).
In addition, as NP and a care provider understanding the term beneficence is vital to prevent other from harmful conditions (Buppert, 2018). The antibiotic that the mother prescribed have many side effects that may cause more discomfort to her daughter such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, allergic reaction, vaginal itching, misuse of antibiotics may arise in bacterial resistance, and more (Buttaro, et al., 2013).
What are the laws in your state for NPs treating themselves, family, or friends?
There is no specific written law that I have found which states New Jersey Nps not to treat family, friends, family, or themselves as they are technically independent providers. NJ NPs are responsible ethically and legally for any care they provided including diagnosing and treating any individuals (Midlevel U: The Online Hub for Midlevels, 2014). Physicaials do not need to be on a site with the NPs when prescribing medications or treatments yet they need to keep communication with the collaborative physician (Midlevel U: The Online Hub for Midlevels, 2014). Although, NPs in New Jersey are allowed to prescribe schedule II-V controlled substance after completing six contact hours of substances pharmacology course,
personally, I would not prescribe any controlled medication to any of my friends, families, or co-workers (Stokowski, 2015).
Refrences
Buppert, C. (2018). Nurse practitioner’s business practice and legal guide (6th ed.).
Sudbury, MA: Bartlett & Jones Learning
Buppert, C. (2004). Can NPs Pre
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