Writing Homework Help

Standards of care – which standards of care were violated and who was responsible?

 

Using the information from the case study, discuss the following issues from the perspective of an APN role:

• Administrator
• Practitioner
• Educator

In your role as an educator, administrator, or practitioner, what  risk management steps should be taken before or after the incident to  alleviate the issue?

Case Study: Malpractice Action Brought by Yolanda Pinellas

Yolanda Pinellas is a 21-year-old female studying to be a music  conductor. She was admitted for chemotherapy. The medication mitomycin  was administered by intravenous infusion through an infusion pump.

During the evening shift, the infusion pump began to beep. The RN  found that the IV was dislodged, discontinued the infusion, notified the  physician, and provided care to the infusion site. The patient  testified that a nurse came in, pressed some buttons, and the pump  stopped beeping. She was groggy and not sure who the nurse was or what  was done. The documentation in the medical record indicates that there  was an IV infiltration.

Two weeks after the event, the patient developed necrosis of the  hand, required multiple surgical procedures, skin grafting, and  reconstruction. She had permanent loss of function and deformity in her  third, fourth, and fifth fingers. The patient alleges that, because of  this, she is no longer able to perform as a musical conductor.

While reviewing charts, the risk manager had noted that during the 3  months prior to this incident, there were short-staffing issues with  many nurses working double shifts (evenings plus nights) then coming  back to work the evening shift again. The risk manager also noted a  pattern of using float nurses among several units.