Moral behavior - reflects the way the person interpret basic respect for other persons such as the respect for autonomy, freedom, justice, honesty and confidentialities C. Value clarification - process of self exploration. It’s importance to nursing is increasing understanding about why certain choices and decisions are made over others and how values affect nursing outcome. D. Malpractice - Illegal, unethical, negligent, or immoral behavior by somebody in a professional or official position, resulting in a failure to fulfill the duties or responsibilities associated with that person. E. Morality - Standards of conduct that are generally accepted as right or proper; the rightness or wrongness of something as judged by accepted moral standards; a conduct that is in accord with accepted moral standards. F. Negligence A personal wrong doing that is distinguished from a criminal law violation.
http://www.enotes.com/code-ethics-nurses-reference/code-ethics-nurses Definition A code of ethics is a guide for an individual or group to follow in making decisions regarding ethical issues. Description In the broadest sense, ethics are the principles that guide an individual, group, or profession in conduct. Although nurses do make independent decisions regarding patient care, they are still responsible to the profession as a whole in how those decisions are made. From the earliest concept of nursing, the proper behavior and conduct of a nurse was closely scrutinized. Florence Nightingale wrote of specific issues of conduct and moral behavior.
Though each principle is a part of the code of ethics, there are flaws to them as well. I believe that the ethical codes are right in the manner of the patient confidentiality and obtaining their trust. But in the state that they “seeks justice in the distribution of health resources” (American Pharmacists Association) I
This may leads to offensive quality of care and unprofessional code of conduct. By violating the expected behaviour, she had put the safety of the patient at risk. Apart from that, false documentation was also being made which clearly proves that she is competent and untruthful in profession. Traditional process used for apprising and displaying nurses who have made honest mistake in the course of the work need to be substantially modified as they are odds with the modes of human error management that are currently being advocated and adopted globally to improve patient safety and quality of care in health care domains. The nursing profession expect that nurses will conduct themselves personally and professionally in a way that will maintain public trust and confidence in the profession.
Kant advocatesd duty-based or deontological ethics, which focuses on what people do, not the consequences of their actions. People have the duty to do the right thing, even if it produces less good. In the case of Lorraine Bayless, the nurse’s’ refusal to perform CPR violated her duty to provide basic medical help. While doctors are required to follow the Hippocratic Oath, nurses follow The Nightingale Pledge. In the pledge is a sentence that says, “[I will] devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.” Nurses have a duty to help those in need of medical attention.
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 Principles “Respect for humans as a function of human dignity is the primary ethical responsibility for nurses in practice” (Chitty & Black, 2011). Nursing ethics has many principles in common with medical ethics such as non-maleficence, beneficence, and regard for autonomy. “Nursing ethics, however, can be distinguished by its emphasis on relationships, collaborative care and human dignity” (Ward, 2008). Each person
Ethical Issues in Nursing This book examines major ethical issues in nursing practice. It eschews the abstract approaches of bioethics and medical ethics, and takes as its point of departure the difficulties nurses experience practising within the confines of a biomedical model and a hierarchical health care system. It breaks out of the rigid categories of mainstream health care ethics (autonomy, beneficence, quality of life, utilitarianism…) and provides case studies, experiences and challenging lines of thought for the new professional nurse. The contributors examine the role of the nurse in relation to themes such as informed consent, privacy and dignity, and confidentiality. Nursing accountability is also considered in relation to the contemporary Western health care system as a whole.
Reading about this case made me think of the ethical challenges that caring for members of faith who refuse life-saving treatments may pose for the physician – emotional, professional, and legal. Considering the ‘Duties of a Doctor’ outlined by the GMC (2), as a physician it will be my responsibility to preserve life and health by employing all techniques available to me. However, I will also be obligated to respect my patients’ autonomy and rights to make decisions about their own medical care (3) and the refusal of such. And this is where the ethical principles of
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.