NR 730 Week 5 The Ethical and Legal Aspects of Practice Change

NR 730 Week 5 The Ethical and Legal Aspects of Practice Change

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-730: DNP Project

Prof. Name

Date

The Ethical and Legal Aspects of Practice Change Discussion

Purpose

The primary purpose of this discussion is to explore the ethical and legal responsibilities of a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)-prepared nurse when initiating a practice change. Ethical decision-making forms the foundation of advanced nursing practice, particularly when introducing new systems or interventions that impact patient care, healthcare processes, or population health outcomes. A DNP-prepared nurse must ensure that any proposed clinical improvements are not only evidence-based but also uphold ethical principles such as respect for patient autonomy, justice, and safety.

Instructions

Based on the assigned readings and current understanding of ethical nursing practice, the following questions are addressed:

1. Identify the participants of your proposed DNP practice change project as stated in your PICOT question

The participants in the proposed DNP practice change project are directly aligned with the elements of the PICOT framework. These include patients experiencing the targeted health condition, nursing staff responsible for implementing the intervention, and, in some cases, family members who support patient care. Additionally, healthcare leaders and interdisciplinary team members—such as physicians, pharmacists, or social workers—may also participate to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of the intervention.

2. Examine the benefits and risks for the participants of your DNP practice change project

The ethical implementation of a practice change requires balancing potential benefits and risks to all involved participants. Common benefits include improved patient outcomes, enhanced care quality, and reduced healthcare costs. However, there are also potential risks, such as patient discomfort, staff resistance to new procedures, or limited intervention effectiveness. Ethical practice requires transparent communication and collaboration to address these concerns proactively.

Table 1

Overview of Potential Benefits and Risks for Participants

Participants	Potential Benefits	Potential Risks
Patients	Improved health outcomes, higher satisfaction, safer care	Discomfort, anxiety, or uncertainty about new practices
Nursing Staff	Enhanced professional skills, improved workflow, job satisfaction	Increased workload, stress, resistance to change
Families	Better patient support, improved communication	Possible confusion or concern about new procedures
Interdisciplinary Team	Stronger collaboration, streamlined care processes	Role misalignment, potential conflicts during implementation

3. Detail the measures you will take to protect their human rights

Safeguarding the human rights of all participants is essential in any DNP-led practice change. The project will adhere to the four fundamental ethical principles—autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice—to ensure fairness, safety, and respect throughout the process.

Key protective measures include:

• Informed Consent: Ensuring all participants fully understand the project’s purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits before involvement.

• Confidentiality and Privacy: Protecting sensitive data by de-identifying patient information and following HIPAA guidelines.

• Right to Withdraw: Allowing participants to exit the project at any time without penalty or adverse consequences.

• Safety Assurance: Prioritizing patient safety and minimizing potential harm throughout all interventions.

• Equity in Participation: Ensuring fair inclusion and preventing the exclusion or overburdening of vulnerable populations.

Program Competencies

This discussion supports the following program outcomes (POs):

• Integration of scientific evidence into daily clinical practice (POs 3, 5).

• Application of leadership and organizational principles to promote systemic improvement (PO 6).

• Translation of research evidence into innovative practice solutions (POs 3, 5).

• Utilization of information systems and technology for effective healthcare delivery (POs 6, 7).

• Advocacy for healthcare equity and social justice for vulnerable populations (POs 2, 9).

• Promotion of interprofessional collaboration to enhance population health outcomes (PO 8).

• Leadership in clinical judgment, accountability, and systems thinking (POs 1, 4).

Course Outcomes

By completing this discussion, students achieve the following course outcomes (COs):

• Apply ethical theories and principles to guide translational science (PCs 1, 3, 8; POs 3, 4, 5).

• Utilize clinical scholarship methodologies to design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based quality improvement initiatives that enhance healthcare outcomes (PCs 1, 3, 5; POs 3, 5, 9).

References

American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. ANA.

Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2019). Principles of biomedical ethics (8th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Butts, J. B., & Rich, K. L. (2022). Philosophies and theories for advanced nursing practice (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Silva, M. C., & Ludwick, R. (2020). Ethics: The heart of healthcare leadership. Journal of Nursing Management, 28(7), 1456–1464. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13090

NR 730 Week 5 The Ethical and Legal Aspects of Practice Change