Professional Trends Week 2 Reflection Assignment Peer Review

N4323 Professional Trendsweek 2 Reflection Assignment Peer Reviewnam

Peer Review In this Reflection Assignment, reflect upon what you have learned about the Minor Incident Rule and Peer Review Committee processes as you consider the actions of fictitious nurses and committee members in scenarios. USE THE TEXAS BOARD OF NURSING RULES and link to the Texas BON Rule 217.16. Refer to your course readings and lectures as you complete the assignment. Performance Objectives: · Differentiate between the the Minor Incident Rule (217.16 a) vs. a Reportable Incident 217.16 h) · Describe the due process protections (Rule 217.19) for a nurse who is peer-reviewed.

Paper For Above instruction

The Texas Board of Nursing (BON) delineates specific regulations concerning nurse conduct through Rule 217.16, which distinguishes between minor incidents and reportable incidents. A minor incident, as per Rule 217.16(a), involves actions that may violate a board rule but do not pose a significant risk of harm to patients or others. Such incidents are easily remediated, require accountability, and do not have a pattern of behavior; they must be documented and tracked, especially if they occur five times within 12 months. Conversely, a reportable incident defined under Rule 217.16(h) encompasses conduct that cannot be classified as minor because it falls outside these criteria, indicating a potential risk of harm or professional misconduct that warrants reporting to the Peer Review Committee or the BON. An understanding of these distinctions helps nurses and committees in determining the appropriate response and ensuring patient safety while respecting due process rights.

Considering the provided case study, where a nurse inadvertently administers IV Vancomycin faster than ordered, resulting in an allergic reaction, this incident exemplifies a minor incident. The nurse's action—setting the infusion rate incorrectly—aligned with a violation but did not cause significant harm beyond mild flushing, which resolved quickly. According to Rule 217.16(a), minor incidents involve violations that are easily remediated and do not pose a risk of continued harm if addressed appropriately (Texas BON, 2023). Since the nurse immediately took responsibility, and remedial steps such as witnessed administration were implemented, this case qualifies as a minor incident. The nurse’s decade-long experience without prior incidents further supports that this was an isolated error not indicative of a pattern.

In the second scenario, the nurse manager's actions violate the principles of Incident-Based Peer Review (IBPR), as outlined in Rule 219.17(a)(2), which prohibits acting in bad faith—knowingly or recklessly—without a reasonable or legal basis. The nurse manager's allegations, based on personal animosity and unsubstantiated accusations—such as medication errors without concrete evidence and unfounded accusations of inappropriate relationships—demonstrate actions made in bad faith. The manager’s loud confrontations and dissemination of unverified information violate the nurse’s due process rights by misrepresenting facts, acting out of malice, and creating a hostile environment, which impairs the nurse’s ability to achieve a fair review. These behaviors undermine the integrity of the peer review process and violate the protections afforded under Rule 217.19, emphasizing the importance of objectivity, honesty, and legal support when conducting peer reviews.

References

• Texas Board of Nursing. (2023). Rule 217.16. Minor incidents and reportable incidents. https://www.bon.texas.gov
• Texas Board of Nursing. (2023). Rule 217.19. Due process protections for nurse peer review. https://www.bon.texas.gov
• American Nurses Association. (2020). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. ANA.
• Hoffman, P. (2019). Legal and ethical issues in nursing. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
• Goolsby, J. C. (2021). Critical thinking in nursing. Pearson.
• Westrick, S. A. (2022). Patient safety and quality care: Strategies and tools. Elsevier.
• Hughes, R. G. (2018). Patient safety and quality: An evidence-based handbook for nurses. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
• Spector, N. (2017). Nursing law and ethics. Saunders.
• Rosen, A. D. (2019). Legal and ethical issues in nursing. SAGE Publications.
• Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation. (2021). Peer review processes and legal protections. ANMF Publications.