Discussion: NURS 6221 Understanding Legal Mandates
Think drug use by healthcare employees and harassment, sexual or other, of employees in a healthcare setting, and you have two scenarios that are sure to test your knowledge and judgment as a nurse executive with human resource responsibilities. Check yourself, and draw on the perspectives and responses of your course colleagues, with a Discussion of these problem situations
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To Prepare:
Review each of the following scenarios and choose one as the subject of your Discussion post.
Scenario 1: A star surgeon is a revenue generator and holds significant power within a healthcare organization. The surgeon is also verbally abusive to lower-level staff and threatens with outbursts and inappropriate demands. Staff complaints have been frequent and responses inadequate. Another recent outburst by the surgeon has created renewed demands for effective action.
Note: For more on this scenario, review the document “Mr. Coolidge’s Dilemma” in the Learning Resources. This presentation by text author Bruce Fried is based on a compilation of real situations.
Imagine you are a new nurse executive in this healthcare setting drawn into a discussion on what to do about this surgeon. Consider issues raised by this situation, such as impact on morale, possible assault charges against the doctor, and potential damage to the hospital’s reputation. How do you respond?
If sexual harassment were suspected in the surgeon’s “inappropriate” requests, what legal mandates, such as those under Title VII, would you need to abide by to address this situation?
What ethical principles would guide your response?
What strategies/approaches could support employees impacted by the surgeon?
Scenario 2: A prospective employee tests positive for marijuana on a drug test in a state where marijuana is not legal.
What is your role as a nurse executive in the hiring process?
What are the legal mandates that you need to abide by in this situation?
Discussion: NURS 6221 Understanding Legal Mandates
How would you engage with this prospective employee?
What if this was a current employee? What would guide your response and how would you engage with this employee?
For each scenario, reflect on the issues and considerations that stand out to you. Choose one scenario as the subject of your Discussion post. Keep in mind that you will be required to respond to at least one peer whose post is the scenario you do not select.
Review Learning Resources related to both scenarios, to help you formulate your Discussion post and prepare your response to peers.
Indicate your choice of scenario in the title of your Discussion post, i.e., Harassment or Marijuana Use.
By Day 3 of Week 11
Post the following:
A brief explanation of the issues and considerations at work in your chosen scenario and how you would respond from your position as a nurse executive. Explain your decision-making process, specific actions you would take, and your reasoning. Support your thinking with the Learning Resources or current literature.
Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.
By Day 6 of Week 11
Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days, with one response to a colleague who chose the same scenario as you, and a colleague who chose the other scenario. Agree or disagree with their interpretations of their respective scenarios and provide additional or alternative recommendations for responses and actions as a nurse executive. Support your ideas with the Learning Resources or current literature.
Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the Post to Discussion Question link, and then select Create Thread to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!
