Essay Instructions: Instructions for Completion of Nursing Ethical Issues Assignment:
Format
1. The body of the paper will be 5-7 pages in length (excluding cover page and reference page).
2. The paper should be neatly typed or word-processed, double-spaced, with 10-12 point font.
3. The paper must include reference citations in the body of the paper and a reference page at the end. Use APA (American Psychiatric Association) format for all citations and references.
4. Use a minimum of five (5) references to aid your discussion of the ethical dilemma. References may include articles from nursing or other professional journals or books, internet sources such as professional websites.
References to “Principles of Nursing Ethics” and “Code of Ethics for Nurses” must be cited appropriately and included in reference page. Only one reference from an internet source. A minimum of 2 references should come from a professional nursing journal. Sources cited as references must be current (no older than 5 years). Note: You may NOT use NURS 1128 textbooks as references for this paper.
5. Copies of all references must be attached and submitted with the paper.
Ethical Decision Making Process
1. Select and briefly describe a client situation or health care issue that illustrates an ethical dilemma in today's nursing practice.
2. DESCRIBE the ethical dilemma:
a. Identify both sides of the ethical dilemma.
b. What are the values involved with the dilemma?
c. Identify the specific ethical principles involved. (see "Principles of Nursing Ethics")
d. Identify the ethical responsibilities of the nurse concerning the dilemma. (see "Code of Ethics for Nurses")
e. Briefly describe alternative solutions to the ethical dilemma.
3. Identify your personal moral stand and your own decision regarding the dilemma and give an example of how your personal experience, values, beliefs, or attitudes influenced your decision.
Critical Thinking for Nursing Judgment
1. Describe how your nursing knowledge base was used to reach a decision.
2. Identify one of the attitudes for critical thinking and describe how it affected the decision you made.
(see "Components of Critical Thinking")
3. Identify one of the critical thinking intellectual standards and describe how you used it in writing the paper.
(see "Components of Critical Thinking")
Ethics terminology to include
equality/justice
The principle or idea that people should be treated equally. In nursing, it relates to fair, equitable, and appropriate treatment for all clients.
Beneficence
The principle that health care should be good, or beneficial. It also requires nurses to advocate for, protect, and prevent harm to clients.
commitment/trust
The idea of a professional commitment to care for a patient and uphold professional standards of care. In health care, this is often an unspoken matter of trust between client and nurse.
confidentiality
The principle of holding certain matters private or secret. In law, lawyers, clergy, doctors, and others cannot be required to divulge private or confidential matters. The concept is being extended to nursing and other fields as well.
consequentialism
A principle concerned with the end result or consequences. In health care, it implies acceptance of responsibility for the consequences to the patient of one's nursing care activities.
duty/veracity/fidelity
The principle of abiding by a system of rules or duty. It refers to the nurse’s duty to tell the truth and the client’s right to know about their diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, etc. It also addresses the nurse’s duty to be faithful and loyal to the client.
(3) Code of Ethics for Nurses
1. 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.
2. The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, or community.
3. The nurse promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient.
4. The nurse is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse’s obligation to provide optimum patient care.
5. The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to preserve integrity and safety, to maintain competence, and to continue personal and professional growth.
6. The nurse participates in establishing, maintaining, and improving health care environments and conditions of employment conducive to the provision of quality health care and consistent with the values of the profession through individual and collective action.
7. The nurse participates in the advancement of the profession through contributions to practice, education, administration, and knowledge development.
8. The nurse collaborates with other health professionals and the public in promoting community, national, and international efforts to meet health needs.
9. The profession of nursing, as represented by associations and their members, is responsible for articulating nursing values, maintaining the integrity of the profession and its practice, and for shaping social policy
