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Nursing Ethics
In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, medical technology has advanced enough to provide certain measures to keep the body "alive," but not necessarily the brain or the cognitive functions that make up quality of life (O'Keefe-McCarthy, 2009). Despite the fact that death is a cyclical part of life, humans still have a very difficult time dealing with issues surrounding terminal illness: hospice, do not resuscitate, costs for survival, euthanasia, and conversations about end of life planning. For the modern Nurse leader, the core of the philosophical and psychological debate seems to focus on two viewpoints. One believes that the individual has control over their body and the decisions surrounding their quality of life. The other view takes on a more moral and religious stance, believing that life is divinely created and that nurses and doctors, in particular, have society's trust and the responsibility...
The conundrum for the modern nurse centers on the issue of doing no harm, when clearly a patient is in pain or distress; but legally being unable to allow the basic principle of autonomy for the individual (American Nurses Association, 1994; International Medical Informatics Association, 2012, p. 4).
The nursing argument is really an argument-based ethical issue involving several aspects of medical ethics: autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice. From a care perspective, nursing can be considered a situationally positive of negative form of appropriate nursing care. Ironically, nursing responsibilities are used in both the pro- and con- arguments. The additional critical issue is that there is no exact answer to the issue -- no complete moral or legal answer that covers every situation and every individual. Legally, the nurse is bound by the overall rules of the State and…
The nursing argument is really an argument-based ethical issue involving several aspects of medical ethics: autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, and justice. From a care perspective, nursing can be considered a situationally positive of negative form of appropriate nursing care. Ironically, nursing responsibilities are used in both the pro- and con- arguments. The additional critical issue is that there is no exact answer to the issue -- no complete moral or legal answer that covers every situation and every individual. Legally, the nurse is bound by the overall rules of the State and Nation; nursing ethics may come into the picture, but not if they cause a nurse to break the law (Quaghebeur, et al., 2009).
A Code of Ethics is in place so that professionals have a clear and unambiguous way to help make decisions. With the six fundamental principles of ethics combined with the principles of informatics ethics, we find that there is a duty that is expected of the nurse to provide privacy, openness, security, and support the patient's wishes. In this sense, ethics and legality do not mesh. In the case of euthanasia, for instance, a patient may have the appropriate documentation legally signed (no intrusive measures, etc.), and the nurse must be responsible for maintaining those wishes and keeping the records private. They also have the moral duty of allowing the individual the moral right to choose what is best for them as an extension of the basis on national rights. For the nurse, every Code of Ethics says that suffering and lengthy pain are not moral. Making it easier for the patient to be comfortable when there is no hope for recover is kinder than heroic medical measures that may prolong pain and suffering (IMIA; Information for Research on Euthanasia, 2009).
This is certainly a quandary for legal scholars, moral philosophers, healthcare professionals, and anyone who has a loved one in an untenable terminal and painful, condition. We then have the trend in medical ethics in the 21st century that not seems to focus on deontology more than utilitarianism (the means are more important than the results). But, the combination of care and virtue ethics also means that besides medical ethics, we must also look at the overall benefit to society. Within medical ethics, healthcare
Nursing Ethics What are the spiritual and cultural values that come into play for me as a nurse, when I'm on the job and caring for a patient or giving an otherwise healthy patient a physical checkup? Ethics and moral values play a huge part in the healthcare field, especially with a nurse, who is often providing patient-centric, one-on-one care in a hospital or clinical setting. A nurse must set the
Therefore, corporations have had to change their viewpoints and start looking at the long-term consequences of their behavior, as well as looking at the bottom line. Businesses also have to be concerned because consumers have also become aware of environmental concerns, and many consumers are demanding earth-friendly products and have shown a willingness to pay more money to competitors who observe environmentally-friendly practices. Interestingly enough, this demand has given rise
Future of Nursing Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia The primary objective of this book is to provide the reader with evidence-based nursing education and practice principles. The goal of this work is to help nursing educators and nurse practitioners develop evidence-based nursing education standards and curriculum while providing nurses with effective examples of patient-centered care that is both high quality and cost effective. Patients and family members in Saudi
Nurses The nursing profession has always attempted to put forward a positive, clean and healthful image. Throughout history the nursing industry has tried to portray nurses as angels of mercy, and as ethically upstanding, helpful healthcare professionals, just a few steps down from doctors in terms of medical needs. But lately the images of nurses has changed and not always for the best. This paper critiques the images of nurses
Nurses and the Ethics of Abortion Abortion and Virtue Ethics In the Crossfire: Nurses and the Ethics of Abortion In the Crossfire: Nurses and the Ethics of Abortion Nebraska's Attorney General, Jon Bruning, announced his efforts to revoke the license of the only nurse working at Dr. LeRoy Carhart's abortion clinic in a suburb of Omaha (Funk, 2013). The revocation proceedings are based on allegations of substandard care and the delegation of patient care
What both these issues show is how advances technology / medicine are changing the overall scope of the ethical debate within the medical and legal communities. Together all of these events have helped to shape the way various ethical standards for medicine would evolve. This is important because they would clearly define the most appropriate conduct for medical research and how to interact with patients in the health care industry.