Ethical Dilemmas Of The Professional Nurse

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. It seems like The

When it comes to decision making the patient has the right to exercise autonomy. The patient has a right to know their treatment plan, alternative treatments, choose to implement the treatment of choice or chose not to. The patient also has the right to stop the treatment plan that was implemented, but he also has the right to know the consequences of his decisions when he chooses to refuse, stop or postpone treatment until further notice. As I mentioned previously the patient has the right to exercise autonomy, but they are also responsible for the outcome of their choices. If the patient chooses to leave AMA or be transferred to another facility they also hold the right to do that, but we as nurses must always tell them the truth regarding their decision as well as the outcomes of those decisions. (Florida Patient 's Bill of Rights and Responsibilities,

Mr. Cole seems to favor autonomy, which is the right to make his own decision. I as his nurse must exercise my right of nonmalificence (duty to do no harm) especially if I feel that the patient is unstable. I feel that it is my duty to be honest with Mr. Cole (veracity) and let him aware of what can happen if he chooses to go home even though he is still coughing up blood. At the end of the day I am held accountable for the outcomes, whether they are good, bad or poor, so I must do my best to cover all bases not just for myself but more importantly for the patient. (Whitehead 2007) Sometimes the patients are not aware of the possible outcomes unless the outcomes are explained to them.

Would you chart the incident and would you report it to anyone, why or why not?
I would definitely chart the incident and discuss my findings with the physician. I feel that it is my duty to let the physician aware of the situation and let him decide if the patient is stable enough to go home. I would hope that the patient understands my reasoning for discussing the findings with his physician. All in all this is a tough decision, especially for the nurses because they are faced with ethical dilemmas on a daily basis and it’s hard to make the right decision while trying to advocate for the patient at the same time. (Poikkeus