Laws, national and state standards, and practices are constantly evolving and this book can help ensure that nurses understand basic legal and ethical principles and know where to go to get the information that can keep them current. Because many of the laws and standards that govern nursing practice are determined at the state level, this book cannot give precise guidelines that apply in all circumstances. What the book does do is provide a context for how the laws and standards impact the life and work of a nurse, and send a strong message about the importance of referring to them for guidance in all decision-making. Each chapter contains many references to specific cases with their court judgments, providing dramatic illustrations of how complex the process can be. The book has many sidebars with information augmenting the text, e.g., histories of relevant landmarks in legislation, address and contact data for agencies, and examples of recommended processes.
Chapters provide references for further information, including a few selected Internet resources.
It would have been helpful to have more web links provided. The book is easy to read, informative, and contains enough case study material and specific examples to provide a thorough knowledge of the issues involved. Specific recommendations are made that can lessen the risk of liability. The appendices provide background material necessary to understand the various levels of legislation and adjudication, and cite many of the relevant court cases. This book is recommended for hospital and nursing school libraries, as it is important for all nursing students and practicing nurses to have access to this information.