Reference no: EM133656529

In a busy skilled nursing facility setting, Nurse Anderson is responsible for overseeing multiple patients in a rehabilitation section of the facility. One of her patients, Mr. Johnson, has a respiratory condition that requires continuous oxygen therapy. However, due to a combination of understaffing and a high patient load, Nurse Anderson unintentionally neglected to check on Mr. Johnson's oxygen levels and adjust the flow rate for an extended period. A few hours later, Mr. Johnson's wife, who came to visit her husband, noticed something was not right with Mr. Johnson and reported to the healthcare team that her husband was lethargic and not responding. The nursing staff did not check on Mr. Johnson until a CNA checked on Mr. Johnson and reported that he was not responsive and his lips were blue. 911 was called for respiratory failure related to hypoxemia, and was admitted to the local hospital.

Discussion Questions:

1. What factors within the healthcare system contribute to the scenario where Nurse Anderson unintentionally neglects Mr. Johnson's oxygen therapy needs?

2. In a high-stress and busy healthcare environment, how can nurses prioritize and manage their responsibilities to ensure that critical patient care, such as oxygen therapy, is not overlooked?

3. What role does effective communication play in preventing situations where a patient's essential needs, like oxygen therapy, are neglected? How can healthcare teams improve communication to avoid such lapses?

4. What protocols or safeguards can be implemented within healthcare institutions to ensure that patients with specific care requirements, such as those needing oxygen therapy, receive continuous and vigilant attention from healthcare professionals?

5. From an ethical standpoint, how should healthcare professionals, including Nurse Anderson, be held accountable for unintentional lapses in patient care, especially when it involves critical interventions like oxygen therapy?