prepare a case study write-up as described in your textbook, including a background statement, major problems and secondary issues, your role, organizational strengths and weaknesses, alternatives and recommended solutions, and evaluation.
Sundowner or Victim?—Case for Chapter 15
Sharon B. Buchbinder and Dale Buchbinder
Mr. Nathan, an elderly male patient hospitalized for prostatic surgery, woke up in the middle of the night, dressed himself, and attempted to leave the nursing unit. An RN approached him to ask him where he was going and tried to detain him. He shoved the woman into a wall and she struck her head, sustaining a concussion. The unit clerk called for help. The patient ran toward the exit and was stopped by two male orderlies and a security guard. As they took him by the arms, he screamed, “I’m being held prisoner! I have the right to leave!” A physician wrote restraining orders to be checked in an hour, and the patient was given an intramuscular sedative. Mr. Nathan sustained some bruises and abrasions in the struggle. The nurse was taken to the ER and was out of work for two weeks. The patient is now suing the hospital for false imprisonment and aggravated assault.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What are the known facts in this situation? What else may be going on?
What are the responsibilities of the hospital with regard to caring for Mr. Nathan?
What should the hospital do about the nurse’s injuries?
Was the physician justified in giving the patient a sedative and ordering physical restraints? Provide a rationale for your position.
Do you think his suit will hold up in court? Why or why not?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
False imprisonment: Nursing Law. (2002, May). Home patient can sue. (2007, April 1). Free Library. Retrieved from http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-161077192.html
Haldol given, patient taken to nursing home: No battery, false imprisonment. (2002, May). Legal Eagle Eye Newsletter for the Nursing Profession. Retrieved from http://www.nursinglaw.com/haldol.pdf
Lanza, M. L., Zeiss, R., &Rierdan, J. (2006). Violence against psychiatric nurses: Sensitive research as a science and intervention. Contemporary Nurse, 21(1), 71–84.
Lippman, M. (2007). Contemporary criminal law: Cases, concepts and controversies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Sanders, R. (2003, December). Double offense problems in kidnapping and false imprisonment cases. The Florida Bar Journal, 77(11), 10–17.
Tammello, A. D. (2001, April). TX: Nurse supervisor blocks exit with chair: Terminated nurse sues for false imprisonment. Nursing Law’s Regan Report, 41(11), 3.
Tammello, A. D. (2008, March). Nurse sued employer & dr. for assault/false imprisonment by dr. Case on point: Baker v. Cook Children’s Physician Net. Nursing Law’s Regan Report, 48(10), 4.
CASE STUDY WRITE-UP
Prepare a written report of the case using the following format.
Background Statement
What is going on in this case as it relates to the identified major problem? What are (only) the key points the reader needs to know in order to understand how you will “solve” the case? Summarize the scenario in your own words—do not simply regurgitate the case. Briefly describe the organization, setting, situation, who is involved, who decides what, and so on.
Major Problems and Secondary Issues
Specifically identify the major and secondary problems. What are the real issues? What are the differences? Can secondary issues become major problems? Present analysis of the causes and effects. Fully explain your reasoning.
Your Role
In a sentence or short paragraph, declare from which role you will address the major problem, whether you are a senior manager, departmental manager, or an outside consultant called in to advise. Regardless of your choice, you must justify in writing why you chose that role. What are the advantages and disadvantages of your selected role? Be specific.
Organizational Strengths and Weaknesses
Identify the strengths and weaknesses that exist in relation to the major problem. Again, your focus here should be in describing what the organization is capable of doing (and not capable of doing) with respect to addressing the major problem. Thus, the identified strengths and weaknesses should include those at the managerial level of the problem. For example, if you have chosen to address the problem from the departmental perspective and the department is understaffed, that is a weakness worthy of mentioning. Be sure to remember to include any strengths/weaknesses that may be related to diversity issues.
Alternatives and Recommended Solutions
Describe the two to three alternative solutions you came up with. What feasible strategies would you recommend? What are the pros and cons? State what should be done—why, how, and by whom. Be specific.
Evaluation
How will you know when you’ve gotten there? There must be measurable goals put in place with the recommendations. Money is easiest to measure; what else can be measured? What evaluation plan would you put in place to assess whether you are reaching your goals?
TIP: Write this section as if you were trying to “sell” your proposed solution to the organization. Convince the reader that your proposed solution is the best available and that it will work as planned. Make sure the goals you identify are worth the effort required to achieve them!