ABSTRACT
Nurses have legal and professional responsibilities toward patients to promote a high
standard of care. However, in the course of performing the duty of care owed to the patient,
omissions and breaches may result. Nurses ought to have the requisite knowledge about the legal
responsibilities to ensure adherence to professional standards. This study sought to assess the
perception of nurses about their legal duties in caring for patients. The exploratory qualitative
approach was employed. The in-depth face-to-face interviews involved 17 participants who were
professional nurses working at Achimota Hospital, Ghana. The interviews were audio-recorded,
transcribed and analysed to derive six (6) themes and twenty-eight (28) sub-themes. Findings
suggest participants had inadequate knowledge about legal concepts and laws governing their
practice. Participants were conscious of their professional responsibilities and noted professional
competence, protecting privacy, providing physical care, documentation, communication and
protecting patient‘s right as some of the duties owed to the patient. Participants had experiences
with legal breach, identified reasons for such breaches, appreciated the consequence thereof, and
measures used in dealing with breach of the duty of care. Legal suits and liabilities minimise if
nurses are well trained and supervised to deliver quality care and to ensure safe practices
informed by scientific evidence.
Edu, F (2021). Nurses' Perception of Legal Responsibilities Towards Patients: A Study at Achimota Hospital. Afribary.com: Retrieved April 16, 2021, from https://afribary.com/works/nurses-perception-of-legal-responsibilities-towards-patients-a-study-at-achimota-hospital
Frontiers, Edu. "Nurses' Perception of Legal Responsibilities Towards Patients: A Study at Achimota Hospital" Afribary.com. Afribary.com, 04 Apr. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/nurses-perception-of-legal-responsibilities-towards-patients-a-study-at-achimota-hospital . Accessed 16 Apr. 2021.
Frontiers, Edu. "Nurses' Perception of Legal Responsibilities Towards Patients: A Study at Achimota Hospital". Afribary.com, Afribary.com, 04 Apr. 2021. Web. 16 Apr. 2021. < https://afribary.com/works/nurses-perception-of-legal-responsibilities-towards-patients-a-study-at-achimota-hospital >.
Frontiers, Edu. "Nurses' Perception of Legal Responsibilities Towards Patients: A Study at Achimota Hospital" Afribary.com (2021). Accessed April 16, 2021. https://afribary.com/works/nurses-perception-of-legal-responsibilities-towards-patients-a-study-at-achimota-hospital