Potential Areas of Conflict In NP Clinical Practice

Purpose

Discuss potential complications in a clinical scenario at an out-patient family practice. Students will explore potential effects on patient outcomes and implications for members of the heath care team as a result of conflict among the healthcare team. Students will develop strategies that result in prevention of untoward outcomes that result in a positive practice culture.

Activity Learning Outcomes

Through this discussion, the student will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Recognize potential areas of conflict in NP clinical practice (CO1)

2. Determine methods of data collection to assess the conflict (CO3)

3. Examine corporate compliance and its effect on clinical practice (CO2)

4. Understand risk management in clinical practice (CO4)

Due Date: Wednesday by 11:59PM MST of Week 5

Initial responses to the discussion topic must be posted by Wednesday 11:59pm MT. Two additional posts to peers and/or faculty are due by Sunday at 11:59pm MT. Students are expected to submit assignments by the time they are due.

A 10% late penalty will be imposed for discussions posted after the deadline on Wednesday of week 5, regardless of the number of days late. NOTHING will be accepted after 11:59pm MT on Sunday (i.e. student will receive an automatic 0).

Total Points Possible: 100

Requirements:

You are a family nurse practitioner working in an outpatient primary care office of a large hospital system. The practice has been operating for over 15 years, and many of the administrative and clinical staff were hired when the practice opened. You have been in the practice for less than 3 months. In that short amount of time, you have witnessed several of the clinical staff engaging in heated arguments with each other, sometimes in patient areas. You overhear an argument occurring today between two staff. You pick up a patient’s chart and notice a very low blood pressure that the medical assistant failed to notify you about. When you confront the MA, she states that she was going to report the vital signs to you when she became engaged in the heated argument you overheard and forgot to notify you.

Unfortunately, this pattern of behavior is not unusual in this practice. Working with staff who cannot cooperate effectively can negatively influence your ability to spend time with patients, can impede the flow of patients through the office, and could impact patient safety.

Case Study Responses:

1. Analyze the case study for potential issues for members of the healthcare team from office conflict. Contrast the potential effects for each member of the healthcare team based upon the required readings from the week. Discuss the potential ethical and legal implications for each of the following practice members:

· Medical assistant

· Nurse Practitioner

· Medical Director

· Practice

2. What strategies would you implement to prevent further episodes of potentially dangerous patient outcomes?

3. What leadership qualities would you apply to effect positive change in the practice? Focus on the culture of the practice.

4. A scholarly resource must be used for EACH discussion question each week.

DISCUSSION CONTENT

Category

Points

%

Description

Potential ethical & legal implications for healthcare team members

30

30%

Provides relevant evidence of scholarly inquiry of the potential ethical and legal implications for each of the practice members. Uses valid, relevant, and reliable outside sources to contribute to the threaded discussion.

Strategies to prevent further dangerous patient outcomes

30

30%

Provides relevant evidence of scholarly inquiry of strategies to implement to prevent further episodes of potentially dangerous patient outcomes. Uses valid, relevant, and reliable outside sources to contribute to the threaded discussion.

Leadership qualities to effect positive change

15

15%

Provides relevant evidence of scholarly inquiry of leadership qualities to apply to effect a positive change in the practice. Uses valid, relevant, and reliable outside sources to contribute to the threaded discussion.

75

75%

Total CONTENT Points= 75 pts

DISCUSSION FORMAT

Category

Points

%

Description

Interactive Dialogue

20

20%

4 Required Elements:

· Responds a minimum of two other posts to peers and/or faculty in the threaded discussion;

· Responses to peer/faculty are substantive (adds importance, depth, and meaningfulness to the discussion)

· Responds to all direct questions from faculty (if no question asked directly, student responded to questions posed to the entire class)

· Summarizes what was learned from the lesson, readings, and other student posts for the week. The summary could be included in one of the three minimum posts.

Grammar, Syntax, Spelling, & Punctuation

5

5%

Grammar, syntax, spelling, and punctuation are accurate.

25

25%

Total FORMAT Points= 25 pts

DISCUSSION TOTAL=100 points