The third edition of Essentials of Nursing Law and Ethics has been extensively updated and documented with legal, professional, and research literature to provide a solid evidence basis for legal and ethical topics. The basic organization of the new edition remains the same with five major parts: the law and nursing practice, liability in patient care, documentation and regulatory compliance, employment and the workplace, and ethics.
The book retains the same central purpose of offering the reader concise yet scholarly chapters that cover discrete topics of importance to nursing students and practicing nurses. Content has been carefully included to reflect recent information, with attention to evolving areas of concern.
To further support the evidence bases of the content, every chapter reviews relevant court cases almost all of which involve nurses, in addition to the core topics that are essential to every nursing curriculum in the areas of law and ethics. These law cases are the result of extensive legal research conducted by the author and are clearly presented in an understandable manner. The issues and outcomes discussed in the cases guide nurses to incorporate evidence-based legal and ethical accountability in nursing practice. There are 190 law cases cited and discussed in the text, 20 of which are new to the third edition. These cases offer invaluable exposure to real-world litigation.
The target audience for the book is primarily nursing students in pre-licensure educational programs, and the text is also a reliable reference for practicing nurses. Accelerated second degree, or BSN, programs will find the text especially useful as a concise and authoritative reference. The book is also appropriate for advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) programs and content, since APRN practice, regulation, and case law are included. APRN content and case law is expanded in the third edition. Self-study questions are contained within the text to enhance student's critical thinking and problem solving. In addition to scholarly, legal, and professional references and case law citations and references at the end of each chapter, many chapters cite additional bibliographic material and websites as supplemental resources. The book can also be useful as a text in selected healthcare law and nursing graduate courses or as a resource for continuing education programs for nurses. It has also been a beneficial reference for nursing education and practice departments in agencies that employ nurses.
Nursing faculty will find the book an invaluable tool to assist their teaching of these sometimes difficult but essential topics. The author has prepared a secured Test Bank to aid in the evaluation of students' understanding of the material. Many of the questions incorporate the NCLEX® format and item structure, and some questions are structured as Next Generation (Next Gen) NCLEX® questions. Additional ancillary materials are included with the text to assist in teaching the content.
Although this third edition has been expanded and enhanced in both depth and focus, a significant amount of basic material from the first edition has been retained. Therefore, the extensive work and expertise of the co-author of the first edition, Katherine Dempski, JD, BSN, RN, is gratefully acknowledged.
As a nurse attorney, nurse educator, and leader with extensive experience in nursing practice, undergraduate, and graduate curriculums, and involvement in private law practice and as an expert witness, a unique perspective has been blended and integrated into the content of the book. Longtime past participation in The American Association of Nurse Attorneys (TAANA) organization on both the national and state level has enriched the author's insights into these topics. As a frequent presenter, author of journal articles, and consultant on nursing practice legal and ethical issues, the author has gained expertise in topics and issues addressed in the text. In communicating this essential information, the goal is to broaden and deepen an understanding of the many complex and continuously evolving issues faced by nurses. The third edition remains as an authoritative reference that serves as an evidence-based guide for legally and ethically sound nursing practice.
As with any book of this type, there is a standard disclaimer that the contents are not intended as legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Every effort has been made to include up-to-date information, but it is acknowledged that the law is continually evolving, and that information may have changed.
Susan J. Westrick, JD, MS, RN, CNE
Professor Emerita of Nursing
Southern Connecticut State University
Attorney at Law, Branford, Connecticut