Ethical Dilemmas In Nursing

Nursing is profession where a nurse is responsible and accountable for the patients and themselves. Nurse’s performance and skills in this profession define their personality. In today’s healthcare setting, there are some common ethical issues faced by nurses on daily basis regardless of where they practice. Ethics is set of moral principles concerned with determining what is good for individual, group, and society. It becomes difficult for nurses to make right decision when ethics, values, and perception about health care collide. An ethical dilemma is a difficult circumstance that often consists of an apparent mental distress between ethical laws. Nursed are charged with using ethical concepts in their delivery of patient care. The ethical

Ethical dilemmas cause distress and controversy for both patient and professional caregiver (Potter, Perry, Stockert, & Hall, p. 296). It is true that distress affect both the nurse and patient mentally in most cases. Solving an ethical dilemma is same as the nursing process in its precise approach to a clinical issue. These issues cannot be solved easily, it require negotiation of difference of opinion and clear understanding of situation. The textbook, Fundamental of Nursing, provide a table with key steps in the resolution of an ethical dilemma. This can guide professional caregiver and assist the patient in overcome the situation. First the nurse has to gather all the information and evaluate the patient by questioning. Then try to make a list of all possible action which will help in your discussion toward possible solution. If this process need family involvement or change in treatment, then nurse must document all the information in the record. If ethical issue is not affection patient directly, you should consider meeting up with other health care professionals and have discussions. These steps are very helpful in processing an ethical