Student nurses have to abide by the Code (NMC, 2008a) throughout their education alongside the policies identified by the university or college they are attending (NMC, 2005). Therefore, a student nurse has a duty to report any abuse they see to a qualified member of staff and then observe the steps that are taken following up the suspicion of abuse. It is essential to seek support during this time from people such as mentors, link lecturers, personal tutors and the university or college counselling department. This
will ensure that students can gain a full understanding of the process that was followed and have time to express their feelings about the challenging situation they have been faced with.
It is important to remember that if the vulnerable adult has capacity and they state that they do not want any help then it will limit or stop the support that can be offered.
However, if the investigation feels that other individuals are at risk of abuse then action can be taken to prevent the potential abuse of others.
Conclusions
Safeguarding vulnerable adults is essential in a society that is recording a rising level of abuse towards adults. There are many types of abuse that can occur and it is important for nurses to be aware of types and signs of abuse that the vulnerable adult may display.
There are local policies and government guidelines on how to protect the vulnerable adult. However, there is a call for a review on the lack of statutory guidance for adult protection that is available for child protection. Only with the introduction of statutory legislation will a consistent interprofessional approach to safeguarding the vulnerable adult come into being.
Glossary
Abuse A violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or persons.
Advocate To advocate for an individual is to protect the individual’s rights and interests.
Autonomy Autonomy is the ethical principle of free choice. Every patient must be given the freedom to think and act freely and independently.
Beneficence Beneficence is the moral duty to do good and maximise good.
Confidentiality When one person discloses information to another (e.g. patient to clinician) in circumstances where it is reasonable to expect that the information will be held in confidence (DH, 2003).
Justice Justice is the moral duty to offer the same standard of care to each individual regardless of their economic status, ethnic origins, political views, religious affiliations or gender.
Non-maleficence Non-maleficence is to never knowingly cause harm to any individual.
Service user, client, patient An individual receiving care in a health care setting. Usually, learning disabilities use the term ‘service user’, mental health settings use the term ‘client’ and adult settings use the term
‘patient’.
Vulnerable adult Someone ‘who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness: and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation’
(DH, 2000).
Post-chapter quiz
1. List four exceptions to the duty of confidentiality
2. Review the principles associated with the role of Caldicott guardians 3. To whom is the nurse accountable?
4. Define the term ‘advocate’ and list four situations in which the nurse may act as an advocate
5. List members of the multidisciplinary team who may be involved in the care of a vulnerable adult
6. To whom does the Human Rights Act apply?
7. What do you understand by the term ‘capacity’?
8. Can a health care professional consent on a patient’s behalf?
9. List four ethical principles 10. What is evidence-based care?
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