NURSNG 332: Legal, Ethical & Health Policy Issues in Nursing

This course integrates ethical, legal, and health policy issues in contemporary nursing. The major ethical principles, several ethical theories and conceptual frameworks as well as ethical decision-making models are reviewed. The ANA Code of Ethics with Interpretive Statements is analyzed in relation to individual practice settings and the nursing profession. Students utilize debate methodology to resolve common ethical dilemmas in nursing. Legal implications related to providing nursing care, particularly examples of malpractice, how a bill becomes a law, and the legislative process are discussed. Students develop a position paper on a relevant health policy issue including integration of relevant ethical, legal, legislative, and economic implications.