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interprofessional collaboration in healthcare
ethical dilemma analysis
ethical dilemma analysis
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Every day nurses face ethical dilemmas. Ethical dilemmas allow nurses to learn more about themselves and help shape their morals and values. The article “In the name of good intentions: nurses’ perspectives on caring for a pregnant patient in a persistent vegetative state” discusses a case from admission to discharge involving a twenty-two-year-old pregnant patient, Judy, with an anoxic brain injury due to a heroin overdose and the nurses’ accounts of how they felt during the client’s hospital stay.
Judy was found unconscious by her boyfriend, but the amount of downtime was unknown. It was reported that CPR had been performed by a bystander and when medics arrived the patient was in sinus tachycardia. The patient was transported to the emergency department with a history of alcohol abuse, depression, and a previous attempt of suicide. It was determined she was eleven week pregnant, and there was a fetal heart tone and fetal movement. Although there was no bleeding or mass of the head, the patient experienced decerebrate posturing and had an upward gaze. The patient was transferred to the medical intensive care unit with an endotracheal tube.
Multidisciplinary meetings were held every three months while the patient was hospitalized. Judy’s team included critical care nurses, obstetrics and gynecology specialists, neurologists, and chaplain. Palliative care was also initiated. An ethics meeting was held early in the admission with the patient’s parents and grandparents to discuss the severity of the patient’s condition and to determine the appropriate plan of care for both the patient and her unborn fetus. A plan of aggressive treatment was determined. The parents, despite stating they fully understood the prognosis ...
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... in the best interest for the patient.
In an effort to better prepare nurses for ethical dilemmas education should be provided. Nurses need continuing education on this topic and should continuously review and discuss cases involving ethical dilemmas such as the case presented in this article. I also believe that future research should be conducted to study the effects of ethical dilemmas on nurses in order to better help nurses deal with those issues effectively.
Works Cited
Abazzia, C., Adamo, F., Gill, B., Morrison, R., Volpe, K., & Prata, J. (2010). In the name of good intentions: nurses’ perspectives on caring for a pregnant patient in a persistent vegetative state. Critical Care Nurse, 30(1), 40-46. Retrieved January 16, 2012 from http://cgez.waynecc.edu:2176/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=d0433f30-4bbd-414a-a60b-90bbfd378cf0@sessionmgr114&vid=6&hid=121.
During week 4, we became familiar with the application of ethics in the nursing practice settings. We learned about ethical theories and principles, which are crucial when practicing in any clinical settings during ethical decision-making and while facing one or multiple ethical dilemmas. Also, we were introduced to the MORAL model used in ethical decision – making progress. The MORAL model is the easiest model to use in the everyday clinical practice, for instance at bedside nursing. This model can be applyed in any clinical settings and its acronyms assist
The first provision of the American Nurses Association’s (ANA) “Code of Ethics” states, “ The nurse, in all professional relationships, practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth and uniqueness of every individual, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems.” The second provision states, “The nurse’s primary commitment is the patient, whether the patient is an individual, family, group, or community” (Fowler, 2010). As nurses we need to respect the autonomy and allow for the patient to express their choices and concerns. We also need to provide them with support by giving them knowledge and understanding so they
Ethical issues are present in every aspect of healthcare. Ethical dilemmas in the Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are especially difficult because the patient cannot express him/herself. It is therefore the responsibility of the parents to make the decisions regarding treatment. It is the nurse’s job to advocate for the patient to ensure that they are receiving the best possible care. The cost of care, termination of treatment, and the nurses’ role in the termination of treatment are all factors that are included in the care of patients that are suffering in the NICU.
Patient A.B. was a 26 year old female who had delivered her baby girl at 0502, approximately two hours before I assumed care of the patient with my preceptor. This was her third pregnancy and all were a cesarean delivery. Gestational age at time of delivery was forty weeks and one day. Mom was group B strep negative and required no antibiotics, blood loss was approximately 400ml and baby had Apgar score of eight and nine. The patient had a very detailed birth plan which included some details such as; staying with her baby, breastfeeding, and providing
In the medical profession, doctors and nurses run into ethical dilemmas every day whether it be a mother who wants to abort her baby or a patient who has decided they want to stop cancer treatment. It is important for the nurse to know where they stand with their own moral code, but to make sure they are not being biased when educating the patient. Nurses are patient advocates, it is in the job description, so although the nurse may not agree with the patient on their decisions, the nurse to needs to advocate for the patient regardless.
Ethics has been a popular topic in nursing for a long time. Nurses are expected to demonstrate ethical decision-making as well as professionalism. I believe that in order to accomplish this, they need to use the ANA Code of Ethics as framework for their decision-making. It is also imperative for nurses to have a strong understanding of ethics, because they will be faced with many difficult ethical decisions that do not always have a straightforward solution.
In the past there has not been an incredible amount of research done on the moral distress of neonatal nurses, but as Kain (2006) pointed out, the research that has been done has been conducted in the form of qualitative studies including surveys and interviews (p. 247). It could be assumed that the everyday obligations a N...
This paper will focus on two BNUR leaner outcomes (University of Calgary, 2013) relevant to my learned understanding of nurses as ethical decision makers. I will outline the ways that I have seen ethics used and not used in practice, what I learned about ethics and its use in my theory courses and throughout my practicums, and I will reflect on how this understanding will translate into my professional practice moving forward.
Since ethical dilemmas are not always easily answered through the use of The Code of Ethics, ethical decision-making models are effective tools that can assist nurses in dealing with ethical issues. Ethical decision-making models provide a framework for working through difficult choices. They seek to define the limits of what is morally acceptable and help clarify the guidelines for making those difficult decisions. Ethical decision making models assist nurses in analyzing situations by focusing on understanding the patient needs, need for responsiveness to circumstantial considerations, and recognizing the uniqueness of each situation.
Several ethical principles that are incorporated in the nursing care of patients on a daily basis are nonmalificence, autonomy, beneficence, justice, fidelity and paternalism. Nurses should strive to comply to as many of the principles as possible. In this case there are principles which support and conflict with the wishes of the patient. The first principle that supports the wish of the patient is autonomy. Autonomy means that competent patients have the right to make decisions for themselves and the delivery of the healthcare that they receive. Another factor that would support the patient’s wish to not be resuscitated is nonmalificence. Non maleficence means that nurses should not cause harm or injury to their patients. In this case the likelihood of injury after resuscitation was greater than if the patient were allowed to expire. A principle that could have negatively affected the outcome of the provision of ethical care was paternalism. Paternalism is when a healthcare provider feels that they know what is best for a patient, regardless of the patient’s desire for their own care. I demonstrated the principle of paternalism because I thought that I knew what was best for the patient without first consulting with the patient or family. This situation might have had some very negative consequences had the patient not have been competent. Practicing a paternalistic mindset might have caused a practitioner in the same instance to force their ideas about not resuscitating the loved one onto the family. This could have caused a sense of remorse and loss of control of care amongst the
Davis J. Anne Diane Marsha and Aroskar A. Mila (2010). Ethical Dilemmas and Nursing Practice. Pearson
Burkhardt, M. A., & Nathaniel, A. K. (2014). Ethics & issues in contemporary nursing (4th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.
Other attributes of a professional nurse would include genuine compassion and caring for patients. This helps to instill feelings of hope in times of turmoil, while neutralizing the sense of fear. Sometimes, no one else is there. Moreover, the nurse may be as invaluable as the next breath of fresh air in rekindling hope and a will to live. In a personal interview Real Estate Broker Brandi Callum, shared her testimonial about how her nurse gave her the hope to hold on to life when her pregnancy with a beloved ...
In conclusion, there are numerous legal and ethical issues apparent in the nursing practice. Nurses should study and be as informed as they can with ethics and legality within their field in order to ensure no mistakes occur. Ethical issues vary based on patient’s views, religion, and environment. Nurses are influenced by these same views, but most of the time they are not the same as the patients. As a nurse we must learn to put the care of our patients and their beliefs, rights, and wishes before our own personal
Ethics is defined as moral principles that govern a persons or a group’s behavior, ethical principles apply to both personal and professional relationships (Webster, 2015). The field of nursing is a profession that has been highly regarded and respected in society. Most nurses enter the profession in order to utilize their clinical skills to help others in their time of need. Those in failing health rely on nurses to care for them in their most vulnerable states, and expect a level of compassion and humanity while receiving care. Nurses have an ethical responsibility to their patients, clients, and their community. Compassion, empathy, and integrity are staple characteristics that nurses possess that allow them to successfully perform their