Nurses are faced with ethical dilemmas related to clinical issues, and disease and treatment decisions daily (Kangasniemi,
American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics with Interpretive Statements, provision 1 states, “the nurse, in all professional relationships, practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and uniqueness of every individual, unrestricted by consideration of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems” "(About Code of Ethics," 2017). In order to provide quality care to the homeless population, the community health nurse is challenged to put aside her own preconceived opinions about drug addiction, alcohol abuse, mental illness and the assumed unwillingness to care for oneself. “While trying to help clients negotiate ‘the system’ the professionals may face a client’s noncompliance with medical regimes, drug abuse, and even stealing or selling medical resources” (Hunter, 1993, p. 139). Provision 3 of the ANA Code of Ethics affirms, “the nurse promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety and rights
Working in correctional settings I am faced daily with many ethical dilemmas. The correctional population has many additional challenges then community patients which plays a big role in the inmate patient’s treatment and care. One particular case I can recall is a patient that was in the ICU and was dying from cancer. All treatment and interventions had been exhausted on this patient; however her family was still adamant on wanting everything done for their loved one. After long discussion with the family, Chaplin, providers, and I the patient’s code status was changed and end of life care was provided.
Nurses who can find agreement between personal and professional ethics will be most successful at maintaining their integrity and moral character. Nurses who are comfortable with their morals and let ethics guide their decisions will be well equipped to provide patient
In order to effectively address this issue, she would need to refer to the American Nurses Association (ANA) code of ethics for nurses. Provisions of the code of ethics are established statements that provide nurses with guidance when faced with ethical and professional dilemmas in the place of employment (ANA, 2015). Not only that nurses provide direct care, but they also speak on behalf of the patients when their needs are not met. Nurses are committed to the patient well-being and safety. In provision 3 of the code of ethics, “the nurse promotes, advocates for, and protect the health, rights, and safety of the patient” (Westrick, 2013, p. 16).
Amidst a whirlwind of change, nurses continue their roles as competent, honorable professionals. A relatively new issue, cultural integrity, correlates with the Code regarding “treatment of the human response.” The American Nurses Association’s “Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements”, also called the Code, highlights nurses’ consensus on professional principles. Nursing ethics guide how practitioners treat their patients and peers. Sensitivity to individual societal, familial and cultural background plays an important role in organizational integrity.
The American Nursing Association’s (ANA) code of ethics is the pledge that nurses are doing their best to provide care for their patients and communities (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2015). This pledge is a nurses’ guide for carrying out responsibilities in a manner consistent with quality in nursing care and the ethical obligations of the profession (ANA, 2015). Having a solid knowledge base regarding the ANA code of ethics is the key to health care professionals honoring nursing practice activities, education, and research. This knowledge base is more relevant than ever as the Affordable Care Act is changing the health care arena and nurses are called to transform the health care system that is accessible to all while improving health outcomes by providing quality, evidence-based, affordable patient-centered care (Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, 2010). Based on the real world observations of my work with multiple sclerosis, the affordable care act has provided access to care that has never been seen before.
The American Nurses Association is the only full-service professional organization in the United States that exemplifies the importance of 3.6 million registered nurses across its 54 constituent member associations (American Nurses Association-Members and Affiliates, 2015). It attempts to improve and safeguard the nurses’ welfare in their respective work places, give a promising vision of nursing as a profession to the public and be a defender on matters that concern members of the public and nurses. The topmost goals of the organization during its establishment were to establish a code of ethics for nurses, get licensure for nurses, promote the image of the nursing profession and attend to the nurse’s financial needs.
Therefore, there are various ways to handle uncivil behaviors which include communication amongst healthcare workers is essential. Distrust, hostility, frustration is fostered by dictatorial, authoritative arrangement and inadequate communication among healthcare workers (Lancaster, Kolakowsky-Hayner, Kovacich, & Greer-Williams, 2015). Communication skills when working with health care members and care providers are a core competency (Yoo & Park, 2015). Further, the American Nurses Association’s Code of Ethics for Nurses states that nurses are required to “create an ethical environment and culture of civility and kindness, treating colleagues, co-workers, employees, students, and others with dignity and respect. Similarly, nurses must be afforded
Not only does nurses have the primary commitment to the patient, but also to the family, group or community she’s caring for (Milton, 2007). In the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics, it includes statements of wholeness of a nurse’s character that which pertains to the values and the worthy expression of oneself (Milton, 2007). For a nurse to be able to maintain integrity, it will have to involve acting consistently with personal values and the professional values of a nurse (Milton, 2007). Nurses are expected and responsible for following the ANA Code of Ethics for ethical decision making. ANA Code of ethics, understanding ethical
Background and Significance of the Study Moral integrity is the key ingredients and navigator in professional nurses that lead to ultimate goal of nursing care. It has been recognized as a fundamental part of professional nurses’ practice (Ulrich et al, 2010; Pavlish et al, 2012). Professional nurses play the largest role to support the need for individualized treatment of the patient. The goals of the profession of nursing are related to ethical and involve protecting patients from harm while providing care that is the most benefit for the patient (Bosek, 2009; Kopala&Burkhart, 2005; Helft, 2011; Susan, 2013,). Nowadays, professional nurses have encountered to face and manage with moral problem that occur from complexity of patient health problems, advances in technology, inappropriate of health care system, policies and priorities that conflict with care needs, inadequate staffing and increased turnover, or lack of administrative support (Brazil et al. 2010; Eizenberg et al. 2009; Elpern et al. 2005;
Nursing is a responsibility to provide the finest care regardless of the patient’s age, race, religion, sex, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or their past. Nurses must keep up to date on education, new processes, policies and keep informed about new laws and regulations in healthcare, so outstanding healthcare can be administered. As a nurse, you have undertaken a responsibility to provide people the finest quality care that can possibly receive. It is a nurses’ duty to follow the code of ethics, to act
Describe the duties of the professional nurse in this case with Mr. Cole As a nurse we are supposed to have compassion and build a rapport with our patients but we must uphold our ethical principles when it comes to this dilemma. As for analyzing this situation and coming to a decision I would use the nursing process since it provides a helpful mechanism for finding solutions to ethical dilemmas. (Whitehead 2007). I would assess the situation and ask myself about the medical facts, psychosocial facts as well as cultural beliefs, patients’ wishes and what values are in conflict. I would then move on to planning and make sure that everyone is involved during this stage and continue on down the line with the nursing process.
When an ethical issue arises with a nurse, it might make the nurse feel uncomfortable and when they provide patient care this could decrease the quality of care. Being aware of ethical issues and how to handle them will increase the quality of care. Educating the nurse on ethical issues and discussing these issues will help the nurse feel more comfortable. By following the code of ethics and remembering the ethical principles the nurse can guide themselves through hard decision against their own person values, opinions, and beliefs. Each and every nurse should treat each patient with respect of autonomy, beneficence, and justice because; in any situation the quality of care should never change.
The practice of health care includes many scenarios that have to do with making adequate decisions when it comes to a patient’s life, and the way they are treated. Having an ethical code in all health care organizations is very important, because it helps health care workers with reaching a suited and ethical decision when it comes to the patient. In health care, patient will always be put first, and their autonomy will always be respected. Nevertheless, when there is a situation where a patient might be in harm, or might be making their condition worse because of the decisions they made. Health care workers will always be there to
