Case Study: Reporting Misconducts in a Home for the Elderly

Frank, a nurse with several years experience, begins work on unit 8 of a long-term care home for the elderly in the US. Within a few weeks, he becomes aware that one of the nurses (a woman) on the unit is being rough with the elderly residents. Being a new staff member, he does not voice his concerns, but just keeps a wait-and-see attitude. However, the behavior continues. After observing her roughly forcing a resident into a chair, and verbally humiliating the resident several times over a shift, Frank reports the observed behavior to the nursing manager. When the behavior continues, Frank returns to the manager, saying that he is considering speaking with the administrator of the home or lodging a formal complaint with the provincial nursing association. The alleged abuser is a long-time employee on the unit, and popular with the staff. When the manager speaks to her about the complaint, the identity of the complainant (i.e., Frank) is revealed. Frank is then ostracized by most of the unit staff and criticized and humiliated in front of the residents and their family members. Although Frank discusses the situation further with his manager, she does nothing to intervene. After eight months on unit 8, Frank decided that his working conditions are intolerable, quits and accepts work at another elderly home.

Discussion Questions

1. A) Examine and compare the consequences of Franks reporting and not reporting the misconduct observed to the manager. From utilitarianism, should Frank have reported his observations to the manager?

2. A) In the context of a home for the elderly, do you think that Frank has a duty to protect the welfare of the residents? Since his report to the manager does not bring changes in the other nurses behavior, does this duty justify that Frank should lodge the complaint with the provincial nursing association?