Question

Rationalise ethically sound decisions incorporating principles of ethical reasoning and codes of conduct

Answer 1

Rationalise ethically sound decisions incorporating principles of ethical reasoning and codes of conduct:

In nursing practice, professionals constantly face clinical circumstances in which they have to make ethically sound decisions. With the advances in health care, ethical problems faced by nurses has increased considerably. The ethical principles and codes of conduct form the pre-established guidelines for tackling ethically challenging situations.

ETHICAL PRINCIPLES:

Ethical principles provide the basis for ethically sound decision making and ensures good relationship between care provider and patient. It includes the following factors:

⁃ Autonomy of the patient : It refers to the right of the individual for decision making regardless of medical advice or other recommendations.

⁃ Quality of Beneficence: It refers to the desire to act for the betterment of others and it includes behaviours like charity and kindness.

⁃ Nonmaleficence: means trying to benefit others without inflicting harm.

⁃ Justice: treating and respecting everyone equally.

⁃ Integrity: Always adhering to moral standards without fail.

⁃ Fidelity: Being always faithful to individuals those who trust you.

⁃ Veracity: Staying truthful and error-free in all interactions.

CODES OF CONDUCT:

It enables nurses to maintain standards of health care as well as ethical decision making. It includes the following factors:

⁃ Admiring human dignity while taking care of patients.

⁃ Recognizing the fact that Primary responsibility of the nurse is towards the patient.

⁃ The responsibility to protect rights for privacy and confidentiality of patients.

⁃ Primary responsibility and accountability for the patient’s care.

⁃ Always promote health, moral standards and well-being of self and others.

⁃ Responsibility for providing a moral working environment.

⁃ Recognise health care as a basic right for all the patients.

⁃ Ensure social justice in health care.

⁃ Participation in research and scholarly activities.

For making a prudent decision experience is required. Therefore the nursing professionals should develop abilities, sensitivity and ethical competence by engaging in proper management of day to day ethical problems adhering to pre-established guidelines of ethical reasoning and codes of conduct.

Other strategies to facilitate ethical decision making in nursing includes :

⁃ Ethical discussions between members of the health care team.

⁃ Ethical reflection groups allow nurses to share their ethical problems.

⁃ Ethics education and training help them to acquire principles of ethics and increase their autonomy.

⁃ Support of experts in ethical decision making for nursing staff.

⁃ Enhancement of good communication skills in patient interaction.   

STEPS IN ETHICAL DECISION MAKING:

- Collecting the facts

⁃ Identify the ethical problem

⁃ Determine the stakeholders

⁃ Identify the consequences

⁃ Determine the obligations

⁃ Creative approach to identify potential actions to solve ethical problems

⁃ Determine the appropriate ethical intervention

⁃ Specify explanations for opposing arguments.