vcc.ca
NURS 4165: Ethics and Law in Health Care
Effective date
September 2024
Department
Baccalaureate Nursing
School
Health Sciences
Description
This course is designed to provide students with an in-depth study of ethics and law as applied within health and health care systems. Students explore legal terminology, reasoning and processes and the basic principles of law that apply to and govern the delivery of health care services and nursing practice in context of inter-sectoral care. Building off of previous BScN courses, students are engaged to explore ethical theories and principles in relation to understanding and addressing ethical issues in nursing from a professional, interdisciplinary, and structural (organizational ethics and socio-political-economic) perspective.
Credits
3.0
Year of study
4th Year Post-secondary
Prerequisites
NURS 3262, NURS 3263, NURS 3264, NURS 3266, NURS 3370.
Corequisites
NURS 4064, NURS 4163, NURS 4166.
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Describe the history of codes of ethics and the development of contemporary nursing codes of ethics and their application to ethical decision-making.
- Identify the basic features of the Canadian legal system and the legal context of health care systems.
- Identify, analyze, and apply resources for guiding ethical nursing practice.
- Identify nurses’ professional obligations, legal accountabilities, and outcomes of misconduct and malpractice.
- Articulate the ethical obligation of nurses to advocate for social justice and health equity.
- Describe and analyze laws relating to human rights and patient care and the rights of nurses.
- Demonstrate consistent application of knowledge, skills, attitudes, judgment, and professional/ethical conduct to promote patient safety at an individual and system level.
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
None
Hours
Lecture, Online, Seminar, Tutorial: 45
Total Hours: 45
Total Hours: 45
Instructional Strategies
This course is delivered through blended learning that includes cooperative small and large group discussions and reflective exercises. Students engage in praxis with peers. Active participation is a foundation of professional practice, critical thinking and capacity building.
Grading System
Letter Grade (A-F)
Passing grade
C
Evaluation Plan
|
Type |
Percentage |
Assessment activity |
|
Assignments |
30 |
|
|
Assignments |
30 |
|
|
Exam |
30 |
|
|
Participation |
10 |
|
Course topics
- Classical and contemporary ethical theories, ethical principles, world views and ethics Indigenous perspectives on ethics Canadian legal system: natural justice/procedural justice; due process and rule of law; case law; statutes and regulations; legislative process; Constitution of Canada; Charter of Rights and Freedoms; court system; basis of contract and tort law Indigenous perspectives on law Resources for guiding ethical practice: codes of ethics; ethical decision-making frameworks; interdisciplinary practice; moral communities of practice Contextual factors that affect ethical nursing practice Nurses’ legal accountabilities: professional competence, misconduct, malpractice Patients’ rights and patient care, including statutory duties, contractual duties and tort duties, in particular a discussion of negligence, direct, vicarious and corporate liability, medical products liability, risk management and quality assurance as well as insurance Public health/population health promotion ethics Legal context of health care systems: The legal relationship between patients/clients and the health care institutions caring for them as well as the governmental agencies involved
Learning resources
Keatings, M. & Adams, P. (2020). Ethical and legal issues in Canadian nursing. (4th Ed.). Elsevier, Toronto Ontario.
Supplementary readings- journal articles, Acts and regulations of BC, legislation and Nursing standards of practice documents and Code of Ethics
Supplementary readings- journal articles, Acts and regulations of BC, legislation and Nursing standards of practice documents and Code of Ethics
Notes:
- Course contents and descriptions, offerings and schedules are subject to change without notice.
- Students are required to follow all College policies including ones that govern their educational experience at VCC. Policies are available on the VCC website at:
https://www.vcc.ca/about/governance--policies/policies/. - To find out if there are existing transfer agreements for this course, visit the BC Transfer Guide at https://www.bctransferguide.ca.