v Vulnerable Population and Self Awareness Paper The vulnerable population represents the identification of a need and an attempt to Address that need. The issue of vulnerable population in health care can be examined on multiple levels. By definition, all consumers in health care are vulnerable; that is the potential for harm or injury is almost always present. Patients rely on the providers and the delivery system to meet their needs with honesty and equity, delivering the best care possible that is safe, effective, and ethical. The nurse often does represent the patient in need and may be an advocate for the patient and their care.
Concept Analysis of Compassion Fatigue and its Role in Nursing Compassion fatigue (CF) is a concept that occurs to any healthcare provider caring for others after prolonged periods of stress or trauma. According to Coetzee and Klopper (2010), CF is when the compassion given by nurses has been exhausted due to constant strain of self, continual stress, and constant interaction with patients. Nurses having to deal with staffing shortages with increased patient loads, being verbal and emotional abused by patients, and constant criticism from physicians on what has not been done. Eventually this can takes a toll, even on the best nurses. This paper will provide a thorough concept analysis of CF by outlining various definitions, detailing how it influences nursing practice, discussing attributes of CF and providing case scenarios to elaborate on this concept within nursing.
The nursing environment can be very stressful, charged with emotions, and highly intimate in nature. Colleagues may rely on eachother for support. It is important that the professional nurse remembers that the boundaries between professional working relationships may become blurred if allowed to do so. The nurse must remain committed to maintaining professional boundaries or remove themselves from the threatening environment. An example of blurring of professional boundaries could be a oncology nurse working along side an oncologist and caring for cancer patients day in and day out.
Underlining this concept are the nursing ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, and nonmaleficence (Taxis, 2002, p.158). It is not difficult to understand how these principles may cause a dilemma for nurses who attempt to balance the risks and benefits of restraint use. A review of literature has shown that nurses want to protect their patients from harm but also maintain the patient’s rights and dignity (Janelli, 2006). With the inherent risk of violence that is common to all psychiatric settings it is important to understand the nurses perspective and reasoning in the use of restraints. In studies addressing the views of nurses on restraint use, important findings have been brought to light.
Therefore, they are at a bigger risk for “poor health outcomes” (Taylor, 2009). I will discuss how nursing theories can be applied in the vulnerable populations of the chronically ill and uninsured. I will also discuss the inclusion related to these same two groups of people. Inclusion Rationale Nurses wear many hats. We are a healer, leader, and teacher, but most of all we are the patient’s advocate.
Moral leadership in nursing is about professionalism, responsibility, accountability, and competency. Nurses have an obligation to preserve their patient’s values, beliefs and dignity, to assure optimal health care, personal well- being, and promote quality of life. In all aspect of nursing, nurses are role models, healthcare providers, patient advocates and are required to meet the needs of their patients. Which can be done by communicating openly and honestly, being fair and trustworthy, being proactive, and by putting patients first. Nurses are face with ethical dilemmas on a daily basic therefore, must examine their own personal and professional values and morals in order to maintain a caring and compassionate relationship with their patients.
The problem was beyond doubt mentioned and was an appropriate researchable problem. The problem had implication for nursing and for the healthcare profession and capability to improve nursing practice and education. Nurses have a professional duty to respect patient’s dignity. “It is essential therefore that nurses understand the meaning of dignity and how the nurses can protect patient’s dignity, especially in the acute hospital settings.” (Baillie, 2008). Purpose and Research
In the nursing profession, moral responsibility is perceived as a relation way of being that involves guidance by an individual’s inner compass that is comprised of values, ideals, and standards that motivate individuals to uphold what is right. Moral responsibility is crucial in the sense that it determines the manner in which a nurse cares, and attends to the patients. Generally, moral responsibility ensures that a nurse meets the set objectives that aim at administering paramount medical care to patients (Driscoll & Breshears, 2011). The doctrine has further augmented my level of moral responsibility. I feel that I am accountable and responsible for ensuring, and upholding the moral well-being of my patients.
If a nurse observes a practice or procedure she believes to be wrong, advocating for her patient demands she speak out even if that practice was carried out by her superior. This is not always easy and may have a cost for the nurse. Nursing settings 3. Different nursing settings may lead to special complications. A patient in an outpatient surgery facility may present different issues than a person in a nursing home.
The Nursing Code of Ethics covers respect and dignity in relationships with patients and colleagues. The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient. The nurse advocates for privacy and confidentiality of the patient and is responsible for reporting unsafe practice. He or she is expected to be responsible and held accountable for his actions, including delegation of tasks. Nurses must be of a high integrity, have self-respect, be willing to grow professionally and educationally and have a strong moral fiber.