Legal & Ethical Issues

What Is Ethical Knowing in Nursing? Navigating Moral Dilemmas

By Zelda Meeker

5 minute read

What types of ethical challenges did Florence Nightingale face over 200 hundred years ago, and how did she respond? What can we learn from her? 

Understanding Severance Agreements: What Every Nurse Should Know

By Nancy Brent

4 minute read

Learn what severance agreements cover, legal risks, and key protections for nurse leaders facing job transitions. Get the insights you need to navigate change.

Pressure Injuries and Legal Liability: Nurse Expert Testifies

By Nancy Brent

4 minute read

Discover how nurse expert testimony shaped a lawsuit about pressure injuries and why nursing standards of care matter across clinical settings.

Nurse Who Sought Treatment for Substance Use Disorder Faces Nursing Board

By Nancy Brent

5 minute read

A nurse who sought treatment for substance use disorder faces disciplinary action by the nursing board for the diversion of opioids.

Rights of Medication Administration at Center of Med Error Case

By Nancy Brent

4 minute read

This legal case highlights the importance of adhering to the rights of medication administration, patient safety protocols, and professional practice standards.

Was Informed Consent Properly Secured in This Case?

By Nancy Brent

5 minute read

A patient's lawsuit alleges she wasn't capable of providing informed consent for a biopsy because she was heavily medicated at the time. Does she have a case?

Nurse Disputes Decision to Deny Hospital Admission

By Nancy Brent

2 minute read

Nurse attorney Nancy Brent addresses whether nurses can admit patients without approval from other healthcare team members.

Are Nurses Legally Required to Offer Assistance at Accident or Emergency Sites?

By Nancy Brent

3 minute read

A nurse witnesses a four-car accident and stops to help. Will Good Samaritan laws protect her if she assists the victims, or could she be held liable if something goes wrong?

Mandated Reporters: Steps and Strategies for Nurses Who Spot Abuse

By Linda Childers

5 minute read

Learn how nurses can identify, report, and support abuse victims. This guide covers the legal, ethical, and emotional aspects of reporting abuse in healthcare.

How Healthcare Workers Impacted Matthew Perry’s Death

By Laura Brummett

7 minute read

Matthew Perry’s death revealed serious ethical concerns in healthcare, implicating nurses and doctors in medical malpractice involving ketamine misuse. Learn the vital lessons for nurses.