Running head: CASE STUDY 1

Case Study

Students Name

University/College
CASE STUDY 2

The definition of unsatisfactory professional conduct applies to the case study due to how

nurse Heather Conyard treated her patient. This means that the nurse in the case was assessed

under the conduct pathway. The Australian National Board receives any reports of unsatisfactory

professional conduct among nurse practitioners, and then they can choose to make a choice as to

whether the nurse will face a disciplinary action or not. The nurse, in this case, is guilty of

unprofessional conduct as she did not play her role in the hospital, leading to the death of a

patient. Her conduct is considered as below what is expected of a nursing professional. It can

arise in regards to how the practitioner applies their care, skill or judgment in a situation when

providing health care (HCCC, 2015). The nurse did not recognize that the patients health was

deteriorating. The nurse also failed to escalate concern by requesting for additional assistance to

help the patient.

The conduct pathway provides a means for the council to deal with complaints that can

arise due to professional misconduct. The nurse was assessed under the conduct pathway since

her actions are part of professional misconduct. She acted in a manner that was not professional.

She was characterized by more than one situation of unsatisfactory unprofessional conduct. This

provided sufficient justification that her midwife or nurse registration can be suspended or

canceled (Savage, Kub, & Groves, 2015).

Once the complaint has been investigated, the Director of Proceedings at the Health Care

Complaints Commission (HCCC) will be provided with a report on the issue. The Director can

then choose to continue with the case or not. This relies on the criteria that have been established

under section 90C pf the Health Care Complaint Act. The director will look at various variables

such as protecting the public from the nurse under investigation, any submission made by the

accused, the seriousness of the issue and the chance of proving that misconduct occurred. These
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are factors that comprise the conduct pathway (AHPRA, 2016). In the current case, the nurse can

either be deregistered or suspended.

The HCCC prosecuted Conyard due to her actions while she was a registered nurse at the

hospital. The patient died six days later after admission to the facility. The nurse failed to

recognize and response to the current deteriorating condition of the patient. She did not organize

for a medical review that could have assisted the patient. The medical review was necessary as

the patient had certain ailments such as diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The patients respiratory

rate was also abnormal at over 40 breaths every minute. His blood pressure was recorded as

89/53. Conyard also failed to report her assessment of the patient or even recognize the

underlying health issue based on the current state of the patient (Chang & Daly, 2015). She also

failed to follow a plan of action that would have improved the patients outcomes.

Professional accountability

The nurse should have completed several activities in the immediate situation. It entails

several stages which are physical care, assuring the patient, recommending another health

professional to the patient, asking for information and explaining. Essentially, medical diagnosis

is critical to resolving the issue currently facing the patient. The nurse-patient interaction is vital

as the patient can provide feedback about their current condition, allowing the nurse to make the

best decision. Nurses comprise the most important individuals in a health or medical

organization. Indeed, the nurse should determine the appropriate medical care that applies to the

patient. In this case, it would entail coordination with other health personnel to ensure that the

overall health and wellbeing of the patient is restored (Staunton & Chiarella, 2012).

Coordination is key to ensuring that the patient receives the appropriate care. In many

cases, a patient requires the input of various professionals. In this case, the nurse should have
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coordinated with the physician and other nurses. This would have ensured that the patient

received proper care. Patient care is a shared responsibility (Savage, Kub, & Groves, 2015). The

healthcare system is prone to errors, and it is through coordination that errors are avoided.

The mitigating factors that would have reduced the accountability of the nurse involve

improved coordination. The mitigating factors can either be in the form of individual or

organizational. The individual factors rely on the caregiver, and how they respond to an issue in

the context of a hospital. In this case, the nurse would have requested for assistance from other

members of the medical fraternity in the hospital. This would ensure that the patient receives

proper medical attention. Coordination will occur both across and within sites that provide

medical care. Essentially, speaking up quickly about an issue is a mitigating factor. On the other

hand, the organizational mitigating factor will entail defining the laws that can apply in the

workplace. It entails establishing rules where the caregiver can follow to prevent loss of life. In

this case, specific protocols should be in place (Pairman, Tracy, Thorogood, & Pincombe, 2015).

This would avoid the death of the patient which occurred after a few days since he did not

receive proper medical attention.

The principles and standards of Between the Flags (BTF) entails a system of enhancing

the determination, response, and management of patients who are deteriorating clinically. In this

case, it is imperative that all clinical staff in an organization are aware of the BFT system.

Moreover, it is imperative that hospitals have the necessary core emergency equipment that is

required to ensure that patients have access to proper medical care (Savage, Kub, & Groves,

2015).

Professional standards applicable

The professional standards that were breached entail provision of care. The nurse is
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expected to assist all patients, but this did not occur in the case study. Instead, the nurse ignored

the patient, and his condition deteriorated further leading to his death. This is a failure in care

that should not be encouraged. It is often complex to meet the needs of a patient, especially when

they have different ailments. However, the nurse is responsible for providing basic care which

ensures that the patient will be on the road to recovery as soon as possible. The nurse also failed

to coordinate with the other medical personnel in the hospital. Normally, the nursing practice

involves a closer interaction between the nurse, physician, and other specialized staff in the

hospital (Pairman, Tracy, Thorogood, & Pincombe, 2015). However, this was not the case, and

the patient lost his lie.

Preparedness

The case study has taught me about the importance of providing professional nursing

care. Essentially, it is imperative that I am prepared as a nurse to play my role as required by the

NSW body. One aspect of care entails documenting issues that are facing the patient. In this

case, the patient was ailing from a myriad of health problems. I have learned that it is imperative

to understand the needs of a patient to ensure that they are assisted. An accountable action would

entail coordinating with others to help the patient. Once I have realized that the patient requires

attention, I can coordinate with other professional in the hospital such as the doctor. As a new

graduate, this is within the scope of practice as I have the skills and knowledge to determine that

the patient requires medical attention before their condition becomes worse.

In conclusion, unsatisfactory professional conduct can lead to the death of patients. In the

current context, Conyard failed to provide appropriately, and the patient lost his life. The nurse is

responsible for ensuring that the patient receives the required medical attention once they are

admitted. Caregivers have the role of ensuring that the health outcomes of patients improve. This
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can be achieved by ensuring that patients receive care as soon as possible. Moreover, caregivers

are professionally accountable. This means that the nurse has to make sure that patients receive

medical care once they are admitted.

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References

AHPRA. (2016, January 1). Regulating Australia's nurses and midwives. Retrieved from

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia: http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/

Chang, E., & Daly, J. (2015). Transitions in Nursing : Preparing for Professional Practice.

Elsevier Health Sciences.

HCCC. (2015, November 30). Ms Heather Conyard caution and 12 month mentoring condition

imposed. Retrieved from HCCC: https://www.hccc.nsw.gov.au/Publications/Media-

releases/2015/Ms-Heather-Conyard---caution-and-12-month-mentoring-condition-

imposed

Pairman, S., Tracy, S. K., Thorogood, C., & Pincombe, J. (2015). Midwifery : preparation for

practice. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

Savage, C. L., Kub, J. E., & Groves, S. L. (2015). Public Health Science and Nursing Practice:

Caring for Populations. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company.

Staunton, P. J., & Chiarella, M. (2012). Law for nurses and midwives. Chatswood: Elsevier

Australia.