Nurse Ethics the Personal, Cultural

Nurse Ethics The Personal, Cultural and Spiritual Dimensions of Nursing Ethics As a nursing professional, it is expected that one will have developed certain competencies that are required of the position. These are considered the key professional development objectives for those aspiring to provide healthcare services in a functional, effective and compassionate manner. I am particularly interested in the area of ethical competency, which carries with it a number of distinct theoretical and practical demands.

In a sense, this is one of the most nuanced competencies, as it requires a degree of pragmatism and intuition that includes but goes beyond simple medical proficiency. On a personal, cultural and spiritual level, I find myself particularly drawn to the profession of nursing because it comports so closely with my ethical expectations of myself. First and foremost, I have come to view ethical orientation as inseparable from professional competency.

Considering the bioethical theories endorsed by the American Nursing Association (ANA), as well as the practical effects of ethical practicing conditions in a medical facility, it is clear that various medical and bioethical deficiencies in a nursing staff will be interrelated. This is to argue that the ethical disposition of the emergency room staff will be directly correlated to the competence of said staff. In many settings, this distinction can have a determinant impact on the ability of the staff to preserve life and diminish pain and suffering.

This is a view which is endorsed by our reading, which argues that the nurse must inherently draw a connection between the practical and the ethical objectives of providing treatment. Here, the text interprets the Hippocratic Oath on multiple points.

For instance, the Oath requires the following vow: "I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice." (PCB, 1) Here, the introduction of a bioethical perspective into this dialogue invokes a question as to the primacy of an interest in pursuing to the utmost the well-being of the patient.

An examination of the Nurse's Code of Ethics reveals that a theoretical basis exists to contend a direct correlation between the nurse's self-interest and that which is best for any given patient. There exists an essential personal obligation for such healthcare practitioners to "examine the conflicts arising between their own personal and professional values, the values and interests of others who are responsible for patient care and health care decisions, as well as those of the patients.

Nurses strive to resolve conflicts in ways that ensure patient safety, guard the patient's best interests and preserve the profession integrity of the nurse." (ANA, 2.2) Here, there is provided an ethic based upon the theoretical presumption that a nurse will view his or her own personal benefit to be inextricably linked to the effective treatment of the patient.

This is consistent with my approach to treatment, wherein my only prerogative is to reduce the pain and suffering of; remove from disease; extend or improve the quality of life of; or bring personal comfort and general well-being to a patient. This is a theoretical approach which assumes that the nurse will base all treatment decisions on an interest in achieving the patient's best overall health outcome.

In light of this, there may be great value in approaching treatment with a cultural sensitivity to the diversity of needs which accompany the inherent diversity of individuals to be treated. Here, the healthcare practitioner must be particular immune to prejudices of an ethnic, racial, sexual or personal nature, with equal treatment quality and personal attention expected for all patrons of the medical system.

This is why it is important for members of the healthcare community to be acquainted not just with the idea of a multitude of groups in its public, but with some level of understanding as to how different ethnic groups endure different health scenarios. The way that the nursing professional approaches healing -- with respect to the balance of personal interaction, pharmaceutical treatment, mental health counseling, etc. -- is likely to be influenced at least in part by the cultural particulars of the patient.

Ethical consideration demands that the nurse practitioner engage all necessary effort in order to ensure that the patient receives the highest level of treatment and personal attention in light of these distinct cultural needs. Ethical nursing recognizes that healthcare is most essentially a human process, and that the interactants will be impacted in their treatment outcomes by sometimes highly emotional factors. It is thus also that I consider spirituality a valuable asset in attending ethically the needs of my patients. This affords me a focus on the optimism, hope and.