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; Epstein, 2008; Gutierrez, 2005; Peter, 2008; Radzvin, 2010; Redman and Fry, 2000; Solomon et al. 2005; Sporrong et al. 2006; Wigglelon et al 2010). The goals of nursing profession are involve ethical and protecting patients from harm (Kopala& Burkhart, 2005). It is looking at or investigating certain issues about human ability that concerned what ought to be, what is right, or wrong. Nurses have to face with patients, families, physicians, and other professionals who are a
Similarly, provision six states that nurses must keep the conditions and standards of the ethical environment high to achieve the best care (ANA, 2015, p.v). In other words, nurses have a duty to be ethically aware and supportive to help maintain the best environment for patients, families, and other healthcare members. Additionally, when an ethical dilemma arises within the environment, it is appropriate to make informed decisions and advocate for the patient. Provision seven expresses the idea that scholarly research, the advancement of professional standards, and the implementation of health and nursing policy allow nurses to advance the overall practice (ANA, 2015, p.v). In my opinion, provision seven describes the nurse's obligation to lifelong learning.
Description of an Ethical Dilemma According to Masters (2015), “An ethical dilemma is a situation in which an individual is compelled to make a choice between two actions that will affect the well-being of a sentient being, and both actions can be reasonably justified as being good, neither actions is readily justifiable as good, or the goodness of the actions is uncertain” (p. 129). In practice, nurses are continually faced with varying ethical issues and dilemmas. When making day-to-day decision nurses must rely on their critical thinking skills to aid in their decision-making (Masters, 2015). Ethical decisions originate from well thought out findings constructed from the following variables: personal and professional values, competencies,
Ethics is very important in nursing practice and involves respect and advocacy for the needs of the patient. Both, ethics and honesty have major impact on patient safety. Another core value is autonomy. Autonomy is demonstrated when the nurse supports independent decision making and respects the patient`s right to self-determine the course of action. Human dignity is another core value in nursing practice.
Every nursing, in order to consider the profession must have an understanding of at least three of the five professional values, in my opinion. These values consist of altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity and social justice (Taylor 96). Beginning with the professional value of Altruism, the believe in or practice and self concern for the well-being of others (96). I believe that in order to be the best nurse you can be for your patients, you must understand the concept of altruism. As a nurse, your profession is to take care of people, if you do not know the professional value of altruism than you cannot possibly understand how important it is to care about the wellbeing of your patient.
Moral Distress: In 1984, Andrew Jameton defined “moral distress” as a phenomenon in which one knows the right action to take, but is constrained from taking it.1There are many causes of moral distress causes and how it is manifested and it can lead to low morale among staff and in some instances can cause employees to quit their job or change their careers. Moral distress has been identified among nearly all healthcare professionals, but most studies have focused on nursing, as it was first recognized among nurses. Moral distress occurs when the healthcare professional comes across a situation where they are forced to choose between what the healthcare provider is best for the patient, but that conflicts with the healthcare organization, the
Nurses are faced with ethical dilemmas related to clinical issues, and disease and treatment decisions daily (Kangasniemi,
Ethics serve as a guide for moral and ethical conduct and thus treat people with dignity, respect and uniqueness regardless of age, sex, color or religion. Also adhere to their job description and within the nation’s healthcare workforce. Surveys from several nursing specializations reported that there is no differences in
A nurse must keep up to date on education and new processes in health-care, so they can provide the best care. As a nurse, you have promised to give each of your patients the best care that can possibly be given. Nurses must follow a code of ethics, to act safely, provide ethical care no matter how they feel about the patient or the reason they are in your care. Following this code of ethics shows your commitment to caring for people and society, it is a guide of ethics and standards to follow to keep everyone safe. Nursing is also a wonderful opportunity to meet hundreds of people from almost every nationality and every walk of life.
All nurses should take positive actions to help their patients and to have the desire to do good. On the other hand, nonmaleficence is the core of the nursing ethics and it revolves around the idea that nurses have to remain competent in their field as to avoid causing injury or harm to patients. Nonmaleficence also requires all health care professionals to report any suspected abuse. The last ethical principle is justice. This ethical principle revolves around the idea that all patients must be treated equally and fairly.
Ethical Principles Ethical Frameworks for Decision-Making in Nursing Practice and Research: An Integrative Review. Ethics is the expected standards of moral behavior of a particular group. Nurses have been viewed as the most honest and ethical professionals in the United States. Nursing ethics refers to the ethical issues that occurs in nursing practice. It is governed by the American Nurses Association(ANA), which holds nurses accountable for their ethical conduct.
Utilitarianism and Deontology are two major ethical theories that influence nursing practice. Utilitarian principles of promoting the greatest good for the greatest amount of people parallels the nursing tenet of beneficence. Deontological principles of treating individuals with dignity, and promoting the well-being of the individual parallels the nursing tenet of non-maleficence. Utilitarian and Deontological principles can be utilized to resolve ethical dilemmas that arise in the nursing profession. The purpose of this paper is to define utilitarianism and deontology, discuss the similarities and differences between the two, and to address an ethical dilemma utilizing utilitarian and deontological principles.
Nursing is a multidimensional profession, and nurses themselves are continuously faced with confronting a variety of ethical dilemmas within their practice each and every day. These dilemmas can arise from situations involving colleges, governing parties, clients or the family of clients. It can be difficult to differentiate morality from ethics, as they both go hand in hand. Morals involve the principles of what an individual believes is right or wrong, and depicts how they factor what is good or bad (Burkhardt, Nathaniel & Walton, 2014). On the other hand, ethics is a moral principle where an individual uses thought processing and decision making to gauge a situation (Burkhardt, Nathaniel & Walton, 2014).).
Nurses are able to provide emotional support to patients and families, while understanding
In this time of sensational change, the issue of disregarding morals or qualities to accomplish here and now objectives emerges. Training foundations are influenced by this issue, too. It is now realized that ethical qualities start to create in the family and in the establishments in which formal instruction is given. Managing individuals, nursing depends on moral applications and values by nature.
Introduction Advance practice nurses are role are listed in literature and on the job but the truth is that it does not fall into a perfect world and everything goes as what is on paper. The job description and literature are guidelines for which advance nurses should try and follow the best way they can, but there are many circumstances that do not fall just as the book mention it would. People are not robot so you never can tell how exactly a patient is going to react. However, guidelines are there for a reason.