Question

For this discussion you will be examining ethical nursing practice. In three to five paragraphs answer the following questions. Define in your own words "ethical nursing practice." Describe the basis or framework you used for your definition. Explain the difference between legal and ethical nursing practice. Discuss one ethical or bioethical dilemma a nurse may encounter and describe how it could be handled.

Answer 1

Ethical nursing practice:

Ethics can be defined as principles or standards of conduct that govern an individual or group. These principles include autonomy, justice, fidelity, beneficence, non-maleficence, veracity, standard of best interest, and obligations. Ethical nursing practice is the ability to provide quality patient care while considering the patient’s wishes, treating each individual equally, respecting cultural beliefs, not intentionally and to fulfill required responsibilities. It is important for nurses to follow the code of ethics so as to avoid causing harm to a patient and being sued due to negligence or malpractice.

            Nurses have both legal and ethical obligations when providing care to patients. It hard for individuals to differentiate between legal and ethical system, it is due to this that individuals sometimes mistakenly claim things as rights that are really privileges, concessions, or freedoms. Nurses are legally obligated required by law to provide safe and adequate care for clients assigned to them. Additionally nurses have an ethical obligation not required by law to strive to provide the best care possible to patients. Deciding what is right or wrong and of what ought to be may be difficult for nurses when presented with certain situations.

            An ethical dilemma is a situation that requires an individual to make a choice between two equally unfavorable alternatives. The basic, elemental aspects of an ethical dilemma usually involve conflict of one individual's rights with those of another, conflict of one individual's obligations with the rights of another, or combined conflict of one group's obligations and rights with those of another group. An example of an ethical dilemma a nurse may encounter is if a patient is involved in a particular religion that does not allow blood transfusions. The rejection of blood transfusions causes an ethical dilemma between the patient's freedom to accept or to reject a medical treatment and the physician's duty to provide optimal treatment. In this situation the physician or nurse must abide by the patient’s wishes and attempt to find an acceptable treatment for the patient.

According to Nightingale’s Notes on nursing, ethical duties relating to confidentiality, communication and the significance of meeting the needs of patients, Likewise, registered nurses are supposed to maintain moral virtues, duties, and standards related to the profession of nursing. Though it’s gradually difficult for all the practitioners in all parts of the globe to perform their duties with integrity amongst the difficult ethical decisions and the pressures that they are facedwith. The healthcare environments these days are too demanding for medical practitioners since they are faced with a shortage of staff to meet complex patients’ needs. Ethical issues may arise in any healthcare state where thoughtful moral questions of doing right or wrong trigger making decisions professionally and the humanitarian patients care. In this situation, the nurse is faced with a dilemma since the client keeps coming back to the unit because he is unable to cough and clear his airway. There are frequently skin breakdown issues, and he seems frailer to the nurse. The client does not move and only responds to non-verbal communication, and he only looks to one side where he is placed. The nurse sees this state as a no-quality of life situation. The nurse questions the balance between staying in the room attending to the patient who does not even respond and to attend to other patients in other rooms.

The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of ethics outlines the values that are all inclusive and culturally-adapted. The code outlines required elements needed for ethical conduct and allows nurses to make ethical decisions as they do their duties. The patient is not only considered a person who is being taken care of, but the relatives are also included in the services offered. The nurse is bound to uphold the dignity of the patient regardless of their state of mind. The nurse is should also be sensitive in making ethical decisions and try to perform their level best to ensure they fulfill their moral duties.

In conclusion, the nurses must be accountable by meeting obligations in the nursing field since its one of the trusted professionals in many societies.

Reference

Nightingale, F. L. O. R. E. N. C. E. (2016). Notes on nursing. S.l.: Hansebooks.

Ravitsky, V., Fiester, A., Caplan, A. L., & Penn Center (University of Pennsylvania). (2013). The Penn Center guide to bioethics. New York [N.Y.: Springer Pub.

Ulrich, C. M., Taylor, C., Soeken, K., O’Donnell, P., Farrar, A., Danis, M., & Grady, C. (November 01, 2010). Everyday ethics: ethical issues and stress in nursing practice. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 66, 11, 2510-2519.