Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing: Decision Making and Courage

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Imagine having the responsibility to choose the “right course of action” in a situation that presents with many different “right actions”. Nurses are faced with this responsibility often; and most times it is not an easy decision process. This situation is known as an ethical dilemma (CNA, 2008). Ethical dilemmas arise in a situation when there are equally compelling reasons for and against two or more possible courses of action, and where choosing one course of action means that something else is relinquished or let go (CNA, 2008). The purpose of this paper is to use the Canadian Nurses Association Code of Ethics (2008), and consider how my own personal morals and values can help guide me through solving ethical dilemmas and also how I, as a future nurse can deal with the negative effects that may arise after an ethical decision is made. Strengthening your moral agency and moral courage as a nurse is also important in the ethical decision making process in order to successfully solve and continue to be able …show more content…

Moral agency is defined as the capacity of a nurse to do what is good and right (CNA, 2008). Moral courage is also important and is described as standing up for what you believe in, even in the face of adversity (Burkhardt, Nathaniel, & Walton, 2014). I believe in this ethical dilemma I effectively carried out moral agency. Responsibility G.4 sets out that nurses must maintain fitness to practice, therefor in my current and future nursing placements I will continue to strengthen my moral agency with continued learning. I will continue my learning by attending seminars and taking additional courses to better my practice. Moral courage is also something that I will use in current and future placements, and I will strengthen my ability to be courageous by self-reflecting. I think journaling is an excellent method to help strengthen moral courage, as it will allow me to keep current with my own values and

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