Case Study: Dismissing the Non-Compliant Patient

Case Summary

The case addressed in this paper revolves around a 52-year-old Caucasian LPN, who was diagnosed with diabetes. She had a BMI of approximately 32 indicating she was also obese. The patient has been administered with one tablet metformin 1000mg to be taken orally daily for diabetes. She has also been administered with one tablet Lisinopril 10 mg PO. She is, however, noncompliant with the medication regimen and takes the medicines only when she remembers. The dilemma, in this case, is whether to admit the patient for close monitoring on compliance or dismiss her.

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Legal Implications for the Standard of Care

It would be legally and ethically wrong for the nurse to dismiss the patient, who presents a typical case of non-compliant (Stelmach, 2015). The patient in the case study has a chronic condition that requires her to take medications daily. The nurse should, therefore, admit the patient and develop a treatment plan which puts into consideration the physical and health needs of the patient.

The Key Components of a Malpractice Policy

It is highly possible that noncompliance with the medication regimen will lead to poor health outcome for the patient. The patient may develop complications and never recover from certain health condition if she demonstrates noncompliance (Cheatle & Fine, 2017). The doctor should develop a practical treatment plan, provide the patient with the rationale for the treatment and explain the benefits of complying with medication (Kermani, 2016). This explanation can eliminate situations whereby the patient may file a lawsuit arguing that she was not informed that non-compliance might generate complications.

The Collaborative Agreements and Knowledge of the Rules Concerning NP Practice

Non-compliance can be addressed through a collaborative approach by the care providers. The rules and regulations of collaboration in New Jersey require that nurses should conduct a comprehensive discussion with the patient and family on the treatment plan. The inclusion of family members in the treatment plan is aimed at enhancing continuity of care. The involvement of the patient in the plan reduces resistance and improves compliance since the patient feels that her needs, interests, and concerns are effectively addressed (Cheatle & Fine, 2017).

References

Cheatle, M., & Fine, P. (2017). Facilitating treatment adherence in pain medicine. Oxford, NY:

Oxford University Press

Kermani, F., (2016). Patient Compliance: Sweetening the Pill. New York, NY: CRC Press.

Stelmach, E., (2015). Dismissal of the noncompliant patient: Is this what we have come to? The

Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 11(7), 723-725.