In: Nursing
Betty, the chief nursing officer, had to make a decision about buying 120 new hospital beds for patient rooms. After she interviewed nurse mangers at the units where the beds were going to be placed, Betty compiled her findings and decided to contact a well-known equipment company to obtain prices and contracts. The equipment company’s executive salesperson, Jim, discussed options at length with her and invited her and her significant other to an upcoming all-expenses-paid lavish retreat at a five-star hotel in Hawaii to see demonstrations of the beds and to hear a comprehensive sales pitch. Betty thought to herself, “We badly need some relaxation and stress relief. Hawaii would be so much fun. Would it be wrong for us to go?”
If you were Betty, what would you do? Give your rationale. Justify your answer with an ethical framework—a theory, approach, or principle.
Do you consider this situation a conflict of interest? Why or why not? Give your rationale.
What policies, if any, should be in place regarding a scenario such as this one? Do you have any such policies in place at work for similar situations? Do such policies impact day-to-day activities in any way?
Betty being the chief nursing officer should follow the ethical principles. The trip to Hawaii may be tempting but it is a form of bribery , the equipment company is persuading her for selling their equipments .Also the situation signifies conflict of interest which is an ethical violation of the code of conduct of organisation and nursing.According to ethics no healthworkers can accept an offering in any form .The nurse should maintain her dignity and be truthful to the healthcare organisation she's working and also to the patients. The equipment company is creating a deceit situation to Betty which is not acceptable by professional code of ethics. Betty may not check the beds for quality and efficiency which may make her unlawful to the hospital and also to patients.
A team should be appointed in hospitals to check , monitor the nurses or any healthcareworkers about the violation of code of ethics and also educate them regarding professional ethics which is the foremost step towards trust a best way in providing a good quality care .
Being straight forward and also doing everything for the goodness of patients is always appreciable. Self efficacy ,advocacy and confidentiality are essential for nurses.The situation is considered as conflict of interest .The patient well being may be jeopardized if she accepts the offering of the company which is violation of professional moral standard.
Formulate a yearly conflict of interest agreement that confirm the validity of compliance with the organisation's ban on accepting any offering .Plan to redirect any offering provided in a positive way.