Applying Ethical Framework In Practice
Running head: APPLYING ETHICAL FRAMEWORKS IN PRACTICE
Applying Ethical Frameworks in Practice
Grand Canyon University
Ethical Decision Making in Healthcare
NRS-473V
April 20, 2013
Applying Ethical Frameworks in Practice
Nurses are faced with ethical dilemmas on nearly a daily basis when practicing within hospitals, physician’s offices and outpatient settings. How one responds to those dilemmas are based on the ethical framework upon which the nurse bases her care and practice. Ethical frameworks can be described as a set of one or more ethical guidelines which can be combined and used to solve ethical questions or dilemmas. (answers corporation, 2013) In the ER episode titled “Be Patient”, emergency department nurse Carol Hathaway …show more content…
One may feel that if the patient shares information with the nurse, the right to privacy has been waived. (Purtilo & Doherty, 2011) It is not uncommon for shared information to be passed along in end of shift hand-off communication, physician rounds and in any communication whereby that information may be deemed useful. The patient typically feels that by sharing personal, private information it will be used by those in the healthcare team to make the best decisions and act in the patient’s best interest. But if the patient discovers the information they intended be kept private had been shared without their consent it can lead to many implications. Trust may be shattered and the patient may feel that no one is on their side, that they have no advocate. Acting as an advocate for the patient is one of the cornerstones of nursing and nurses pledge to keep “confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling”. (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2013, p. 1) Then there is the “right to know” (Purtilo & Doherty) which is when information is shared to those who need to know in order to assist in healthcare decision making. In this episode of ER, the parents should be included in those with a “right to know”. They need to know the condition their daughter has been diagnosed with in order to make medical decisions to treat her cervical …show more content…
* Fidelity refers to keeping commitments and is based on the “virtue of caring.”(ANA, n.d., p. 2) * Justice refers to the theory that everyone is entitled to a fair and equal share of resources regardless of who they are or how much they have contributed. (ANA, n.d.) * Paternalism refers to the power the healthcare team has over the patient and is based on the nurse or physician’s belief that what is in the best interest of the patient and whether or not to share information with the patient. (ANA, n.d.)
By using the theories learned through nursing education and practical experience nurses gain insight and use this to formulate answers to ethical questions. There are times when additional resources are needed. “Ethics committees in health care institutions should be educational and advisory in purpose. Generally, the function of the ethics committee should be to consider and assist in resolving unusual, complicated ethical problems involving issues that affect the care and treatment of patients within the health care institution.”(American Medical Association [AMA], 1994, ¶ 2) The recommendations given by an ethics committee do not have to be followed, but it is encouraged that those recommendations be given serious consideration. Ethics committees are typically made up of physicians, nurses and other providers of healthcare
Applying Ethical Frameworks in Practice
Grand Canyon University
Ethical Decision Making in Healthcare
NRS-473V
April 20, 2013
Applying Ethical Frameworks in Practice
Nurses are faced with ethical dilemmas on nearly a daily basis when practicing within hospitals, physician’s offices and outpatient settings. How one responds to those dilemmas are based on the ethical framework upon which the nurse bases her care and practice. Ethical frameworks can be described as a set of one or more ethical guidelines which can be combined and used to solve ethical questions or dilemmas. (answers corporation, 2013) In the ER episode titled “Be Patient”, emergency department nurse Carol Hathaway …show more content…
One may feel that if the patient shares information with the nurse, the right to privacy has been waived. (Purtilo & Doherty, 2011) It is not uncommon for shared information to be passed along in end of shift hand-off communication, physician rounds and in any communication whereby that information may be deemed useful. The patient typically feels that by sharing personal, private information it will be used by those in the healthcare team to make the best decisions and act in the patient’s best interest. But if the patient discovers the information they intended be kept private had been shared without their consent it can lead to many implications. Trust may be shattered and the patient may feel that no one is on their side, that they have no advocate. Acting as an advocate for the patient is one of the cornerstones of nursing and nurses pledge to keep “confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling”. (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2013, p. 1) Then there is the “right to know” (Purtilo & Doherty) which is when information is shared to those who need to know in order to assist in healthcare decision making. In this episode of ER, the parents should be included in those with a “right to know”. They need to know the condition their daughter has been diagnosed with in order to make medical decisions to treat her cervical …show more content…
* Fidelity refers to keeping commitments and is based on the “virtue of caring.”(ANA, n.d., p. 2) * Justice refers to the theory that everyone is entitled to a fair and equal share of resources regardless of who they are or how much they have contributed. (ANA, n.d.) * Paternalism refers to the power the healthcare team has over the patient and is based on the nurse or physician’s belief that what is in the best interest of the patient and whether or not to share information with the patient. (ANA, n.d.)
By using the theories learned through nursing education and practical experience nurses gain insight and use this to formulate answers to ethical questions. There are times when additional resources are needed. “Ethics committees in health care institutions should be educational and advisory in purpose. Generally, the function of the ethics committee should be to consider and assist in resolving unusual, complicated ethical problems involving issues that affect the care and treatment of patients within the health care institution.”(American Medical Association [AMA], 1994, ¶ 2) The recommendations given by an ethics committee do not have to be followed, but it is encouraged that those recommendations be given serious consideration. Ethics committees are typically made up of physicians, nurses and other providers of healthcare