NURSNG 462: Legal, Ethical & Health Policy & Capstone for RNs

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 are analyzed in relation to individual practice settings and the nursing profession. Legal implications related to providing nursing care, particularly examples of malpractice, how a bill becomes law, and the legislative process are discussed. Students develop a position paper in memo format on a health policy issue including integration of relevant ethical, legal, legislative and economic implications. Students are responsible for a Capstone paper that presents analysis of individual case studies from the student's professional clinical experience integrating concepts of ethical reasoning, policy formation, and legal processes.