Does the Required Documentation Determine the Care a Hospice Nurse Will Provide
Notably, it is necessary for a hospice nurse to have the required documentation before attempting to provide any assistance. This is because hospice nurses practice nursing under the law. As a result, Kennedy (2008) states that all their actions and performance is guided by the policies and guidelines put in place by the law. Notably, any malfunction or accidents that happen during care are answerable in front of a jury. This means that damages incurred are liable to the practicing hospice nurse. Rice (2006) statuses that their employer insures the hospice nurse with the necessary documentation to a set amount meaning that a hospice nurse without documentation will have to incur the damages costs because they lack insurance.
The hospice nurse also needs to have documentation showing the agreement between the employer, the caregiver, and the patient. This ensures that the hospice nurse is properly oriented providing exposure to different circumstances and devices that are used in the home (Rice 2006). This agreement signed by the patient will accept the training background and experience of the nurse ensuring that it is what they want.
However, the Good Samaritan statute provides an alternative. Some nurses my find themselves in the scene of an emergency and feel obligated to provide first aid. Although the law does not require a nurse to assist in the scene of an emergency, it provides immunity for negligence if they do. However, gross negligence is not provided and abandoning an emergency in most cases result to one. However, Rice (2006) states that nurses should be aware of the guidelines that govern the Good Samaritan act. First, if they choose to stop at the scene of an emergency, they should remain there until an ambulance arrives. Secondly, they should not receive payment for the services rendered.
References
Kennedy, J. (2008). CR 5567: data collection in hospice: what it means to hospice providers. Home Healthcare Nurse, 26(5), 317-320. Rice, R. (2006). Home care nursing practice concept and application (4th Ed). St. Louis MO: Mosby Elsevier.
