But you aren’t able to; you have to do what is required of your job. Ethical decision making is a skill that can be learned, based on an understanding of underlying ethical principles, ethical theories or systems, a decision making model, and the Nursing Code of Ethics. The nurse is legally responsible for using their knowledge and skills to provide for the safety and comfort of their patients. The nurse is also ethically responsible for acting as a patient advocate to safeguard patients’ rights. Each situation has to be assessed; the nurse may use the Six-Step process in assessing their ethical dilemma.
According to the ANA code of ethics, the RN’s primary commitment is to the patient and to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient. The RN also collaborates with other health care members to meet the needs of the patient. “The nurse plays a central role in creating an environment of mutual trust and respect among all health care professionals by engaging in an open dialogue and claiming a place in the shared decision making about patient care.” (Lachman, 2009). Therefore, it is important to consider the physician’s belief system, as there are a number of medical professionals who “…refuse to deliver care that runs contrary to their moral or religious beliefs, asserting a ‘right of conscience’ or ‘right of refusal’.” (Stein, 2007). In the second case study regarding the malpractice and negligence of a nurse, the primary obligation according to the ANA code of ethics is to the patient.
The question is what role do nurses play when it comes to medication safety? Nurses play many different roles in the world of medicine; however the most important role is to assure that patients are receiving their medication safely. One of the recommendations to reduce medication errors and harm is to use the “Five rights: the right patient, the right drug, the right dose, the right route, and the right time” (Choo, Hutchinson & Bucknall, 2010, p.854). Verifying the patient’s identity ensures that the correct patient is receiving the medication, confirming that the medication written on the order is the same medication being prepared, ensures the right drug, dose and route is given. Some medications must be given at specific time, so it imperative to provide the medication to the patient at the correct time.
As nurses we often deal with ethical dilemmas in our everyday clinical practice; and as professionals we have the responsibility to analyse and examine any ethical problems that may arise. Any decision should be based on ethical principle that protects both the patient and the health care provider. So what is an ethical dilemma? It is a problem without a satisfactory resolution. The ethical decision-making lays in the fact that very different ethical choices regarding the same ethical dilemma can be made resulting in neither choice being a “right or wrong” decision.
Elements of Caring According to Watson’s theory of caring there are three different elements that a nurse must recognize to provide such care. The first is carative factors; this takes into account that the nurse must be self-aware of her own judgment and emotional barriers to connect intimately, and at the same time preserving the patient’s dignity in a professional manner. The second element is the transpersonal caring relationship (Lachman 2012); it reviews the conscious and moral commitment to make a longstanding connection with the patient. The final element is the caring occasion or moment, this involves knowing and being able to recognize the right time, right place and the right situation in which caring can take place. Case of Caring Lachman (2012) describes a scenario in which a nurse proves competent in being a patient advocate and providing a level of care exclusively for this individual.
Ethical standards, I believe should be in allocating resources for elderly and end of life is the right to a good health care. Giving the elderly resources for a good healthcare is very important because they are part of the society. As nurses, our obligations are to our patients, making sure they are safe, comfortable and well. Analyzing Ethical Challenge According to the American Nurses Association (ANA) (2011), code of ethics; provision 2. It is the nurse’s primary responsibility for each patient to be given good care, no matter their social
In health care ethical decisions not only affect the practice but the patients as well. Effect ACHE Standards on Ethical Decision Making The ethical decision standards of the ACHE need to be tough, this is necessary as these standards involve the entire health care network. The ACHE’s Ethics Toolkit provides the user with the assistance needed to influence values and strong ethics; it also helps develop additional ethical guidelines and insight into the appropriate ethical approach when needed. The American College of Health Care Executives expects health care professionals to adhere to a number of
Ethical and Legal Issues in Nursing In nursing profession, The America Nursing Associate (ANA) Code of Ethic acts as a backbone to guide health care team to look deep into all different angle when making ethical decision. The Code of Ethic was created to assist nurses to preserve his or her professional principle of values, morals and ethical when caring for patients. Every nurses have a duty to protect and respect all patients' cultural belief, values, and dignity. Moral and ethical principles are the cord to direct any ethical decision making. It is a path to the open road for nurses to gain critical thinking, differ aspect of life.
Ethical and Legal Issues in Nursing The nurse has a unique ability to follow a specific and a general code of ethical decision-making while caring for the most vulnerable of patients. The nurse must navigate public health law, educational law, and his or her institutional policies while keeping his or her own personal beliefs from controlling what is best for the patient. Ethics are “the principles of conduct governing one’s relationships with others-basic beliefs of right and wrong…. Law is the minimum ethic, written down and enforced.” (Ellis& Hartley, 2008, p. 288) The registered professional nurse must use resources to assist her, including the ANA Code of Ethics and the state’s nurse practice act. A final influence in the case of both of these cases, as with case one, Marianne could not make her decisions, as a patient advocate, the code ethics states in provision 1.3, “The nurse respects the dignity and rights of all human beings irrespective of the nature of the health problem.
She is an associate director and programme director in Health Sciences Ethics, Emory University, Atlanta, United States (US). It is based on frequently raised ethical issues in palliative care which may arise when there is a change from a curative approach towards a palliative approach. The ethical principles addresses respecting patients autonomy; promoting good for the patients (beneficence); the obligation not to harm patients (non-maleficence); and justice. Depending on the situation, it may be difficult to honour all the ethical principle because ethical issues are conflicting. They are characterised by making the right decision to benefit the patient and at the same time being able to justify the decision made.