Question

An RN comes into a client's room to administer meds but a relative who is sitting in the room tells the nurse that the client went to physical therapy. The RN leaves the meds on the bedside table, requesting that the relative give the meds to the client when she returns from physical therapy.

1. What is the ethical issue?

2. How does it relate to the nursing code of ethics?

3. How should have this situation been addressed from the beginning?

Answer 1

1, in my opinion the first ethical issue is that as per code of ethics of the nursing profession the nursing staff should confer the responsibility for safe administration of the medicine to the patient and in this way he/she cannot be assure it that the medication will be taken or not as it is handed over to the relative

2.oit relate to nursing code of ethics of the responsibility of safe and proper on time administration of the medicine to the patient

3.From beginning if the nurse came to administer the medicine to the patient and he/she is on physical therapy, then he/she should ascertain the status of the patient at the said location, then wait for the patient then administer the medication by his/her own hands rather than giving it to relatives, which is totally unethical