NR 528 Module 5 Discussion_Implementing Change

specialty. According to the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), medical assistants work alongside physicians in various clinical settings. MA’s are trained to perform clinical and administrative duties. Clinical duties include taking medical histories, assisting the physician during examinations, collecting and preparing lab specimens, preparing and administering medications, transmitting prescription refills as directed, wound care, etc. Administrative duties include using computer applications, welcoming patients, updating and filing patient medical records, scheduling appointments, etc. The medical assistant illegally prescribed the patient medication under the nurse practitioner’s name. Stephanie did not examine the patient with the physician, which is not within her scope of practice, which could have yielded the cause for her coughing. The possible sanctions for any violations outlined in the disciplinary standards and procedure are temporary or permanent revocation of the medical assistant credentials (AAMA, 2021). Mesosystem: The nurse practitioner was not able to practice ethical values when treating this patient. The ethical values of nonmaleficence and beneficence were not used when providing care for this patient. According to Haddad & Geiger (2020), “Non-maleficence requires that nurses avoid causing harm to patients” (p. 6). The term beneficence is described as, “… duty to refrain from maltreatment, minimize harm, and promote good towards patients” (p. 6). The actions of the medical assistant prescribing medication under the nurse practitioner’s name could have caused harm to the patient such as drug allergy, incompatibility to other medications, incorrect dosing, etc. Since the nurse practitioner’s "Name is on the bottle, the liability would be placed on the provider. Beneficence goes hand in hand with non-maleficence, minimizing harm towards patients. The legal implications are simple for a nurse practitioner. According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, disciplinary actions against a nurse in violation of the code of ethics and practice laws include fine or penalty, public reprimand or censure for minor violation, remediation/education, limitation or restriction of practice, separation from practice, etc. (NCSBN, 2021). Emergency action can be taken if necessary if immediate evidence is available." Macrosystem: The medical director could face potential ethical and legal implications. If the nurse practitioner was not in a full practice authority state, then the medical director could face consequences. According to Trulove (2015), “The medical director faces novel risks for professional liability, regulatory compliance, licensure board complaints…” (p. 2). The medical director will have malpractice insurance if the patient outcome is bad or if the patient sues for negligence. Trulove (2015). B. To prevent further episodes of potentially illegal behavior, as a future nurse practitioner, I would join an ethics committee, implement education on scope of practice for individual disciplines,