Examples Of Ethical Issues In Nursing

An ethical dilemma can be a challenge that nurses may have to face multiple times throughout their careers. These Ethical issues impact the nurse and the patient. Ethics means doing good and causing no harm, however it may be defined differently in every situation because everyone has personal values. Learning how to deal with and provide care for patients that have values and beliefs other than our own can be a struggle. One major ethical issue faced in healthcare is the Jehovah’s witnesses and the refusal of blood transfusions. Religious beliefs can play a big part in a patient’s decision about their care. Sometimes the decisions a patient makes can mean life or death and the nurse has to learn how to reconcile their own beliefs while

In the article there is a fifteen-year-old girl that is admitted to the hospital with pancytopenia. The girl’s hemoglobin level was dangerously low and it was recommended that she get a blood transfusion immediately. The fifteen-year-old girl refused the transfusion because of her religious beliefs. It was then discussed and assessed if the patient understood her diagnoses, and if she was capable to make and informed decision at her age and they decided she was. The patient’s condition got worse and she was transferred to the intensive care unit. The girl was treated with other supportive measures such as oxygen, fluids, erythropoietin injections and iron. The patient went home after a few weeks and her hemoglobin went up to a normal level. The patient was extremely grateful to the hospital and staff for listening to her and respecting her wishes. This article also states how important communication is with the patients to discuss all of the options other than a blood transfusion

Although we have a responsibility to uphold this code, it can be difficult in certain situations because of the different values and beliefs people have. There are many portions of the code of ethics that relate to this issue, however one of the biggest ones is in “principle two: Responsibility to Clients, to respect and support client choices (pp.5).” Some health care workers may have a hard time respecting and supporting a patient’s decision not to get a blood transfusion because of their religious beliefs. In this case nurses need to discuss all of the outcomes, possibility’s and other options with the patient. Whatever the decision is we have a responsibility to support and respect the choice. Another responsibility nurses have to their patients is to “Provide care to each client recognizing their individuality and their right to choice(pp.5).” Every patient has their own needs and wishes that need to be respected and everyone has the legal right to make choices about their care such as refusing a transfusion. Another ethical responsibility that relates to this issue is “Respect and protect client privacy and hold in confidence information disclosed except in certain narrowly defined exceptions(PP.5).” In this particular situation the person needs to be communicated with in privacy to give them the options of