Question

How could Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs affect a health care worker's ability to exercise sound judgment and values when faced with an ethical dilemma? (Must be 300 a minimum of words)

Answer 1

The Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a psychological motivational theory which comprises of the five needs of the humans arranged in a pyramidal model. The pyramid from bottom to top contains needs such as psychological, safety, belonging and love needs, esteem and finally self actualization need. In case of healthcare workers the theory has to be used keeping in mind the patient care, safety and health condition on priority above all the needs of the healthcare workers themselves. So when facing any ethical dilemma where the hierarchy of needs comes into play, the medical and nursing professionals ethics play a critical part in superseding all the other values. The medical and nursing ethics which are imbibed during the education and training are the sole guiding principles that help the healthcare workers elevate themselves above the individual needs and work with ethical values which maximize the care and safety for the patient

             The top of the Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is need for self actualization, which essentially means that the individual must accomplish a task which is assigned to the best of his capability according to his maximum potential. So when the healthcare professional faces any ethical dilemma, as per the top most hierarchical needs the healthcare professional will always on ethical and professional front prioritize the need for the medical care and safety will be put above anything else. The healthcare profession as a whole does not have ethics as an option but a mandatory criteria inn order to function in the first place as the duty of providing care, treatment and safety trumps above any theory of motivation and hierarchy of needs. All the other bottom four part such as psychological, safety, belonging and love needs, esteem so apply individual but when it comes to addressing to ethical dilemmas and to exercise sound judgment and values, the professional healthcare code of ethic all ways help with the self actualization need to help function professionally and provide best possible care and treatment keeping patient safety in mind.