Question

What ethical conflict have observed in the clinical setting? What did you do?

If you have not yet observed one, is there an conflict with duties to self and duties to the client?

Answer 1

Nurses are facing daily ethical challenges in their profession, one amoung them is the provision of quality care to the patients.Staffing pattern has a direct influence on patient outcomes.

I have observed a lots of conflicts in my clinical experience.Shortage of staff nurses was the majour one which I felt.For example as per hospital policy an ICU staff has to take care of two patients in her shift(.I mean the nurse patient ratio is 1:2)Because of the staff shortage we had to take care of at least 3 to 4 patients in a shift.So we had to compromise on the quality of care to the patients ,though we know that which is not right.Adequate nurse staffing influences the quality of patient care because it allows nurses to spend more time with each patient.Otherwise we may not be able to fullfill the needs of each patient on time.There will be delay in treatment,safety issues can also occur and more chances of spreading infection.

I tried to put my 100% effort to provide quality care by proper time and speed management. I gave more concentration on the efficiency of my work and learned how to improve that .Apart from that we informed the authorities regarding the issue many times.