Nursing Ethics Review

¶ … ethics provided key inspiration for others looking to apply a more practical application of the ethics within a 21st century organization. The article essentially attempted to redefine ethics and the role ethics play, or should play, within the context of organizational leadership. This pedagogical approach to ethical inclusion within leadership style is highlighted throughout this article and new models, approaches and philosophies are introduced to help guide the reader through this author's writings.

To help give the new understanding of the idea of ethics in the modern world, the idea of globalization is used to help contextualize how ethics may be approached according to this author. A key definition is introduced that premised the article when the author wrote " the lack of universal, organizational ethical standard has prompted the exploration of what is right and what is wrong, often resulting in the crossing of known and perceived boundaries with disastrous consequences." The dire tone expressed in this phrase is consistent throughout the article as the emotive style of the author implored a new use of ethics.

To help in redefining the ideal of ethics the author stressed that ethics are more of a process and not and end state. The ethical process must be unique to the goals and objectives specific to the organizational leadership's approach to achieving those goals. The inclusion of ethics in all processes of organizations is urged as a benefit by this author in this article.

The article has value as it attempts to introduce a new ethical paradigm within a very rapidly changing environment in the 21st century. While this article is based in emotion and rhetorical device, ethics themselves share this subjective quality and the article succeeds in presenting a compelling and valuable case for reexamining ethical approaches within organizations.

Health Care Applications

Els & McDonald (2002) wrote that "healthcare organizations have some catching up to do. They lag behind in private industry in their attention to ethical aspects of organizational life. Using tools from the field of business ethics and combining them with tools from bioethics, healthcare organizations might perform an ethics audit, which compares actual with desired practice and may determine how values drive decisions and actions within an organization."

This idea is important when applying Bishop's ideas on addressing the new landscape of ethical problems within modern society. The medical and healthcare organizations have been through massive transformation throughout the last decade. Technology and politics has altered this environment greatly, requiring new thought processes and ideas on the approaches that must be taken.

Any organizational theory must be applied in a subjective matter that addresses the key needs of that organization. There are many to choose from, but what is most releveant is that theory makes sense to the one using it to model their own organization. Simplicity helps to reduce the ethical burden that comes with sophisticated and complex issues that are so prevalent in the healthcare industry. Organizational theories need to incorporate simple ethical principles within their ideals not because it is the right thing to do, but because it is simply practical to do so.

This is the essence of Bishop's attempt to redefine ethics and ethical approaches in modern 21st century organizations. By using ethics as a tool and not a reward or thing itself, a new understanding of the ideals that lie behind ethics can be revealed to assist the organization in performing its duties in a professional and agreeable manner.

Ethical Nursing

The role of nursing is unique within the healthcare industry, and the pivotal role that this profession plays is largely underrated in the healing process. The core values of nursing need to be examined for ethical quality and to align them with the practices and clinical approaches that are being used by any given nurse. Vanlaere & Gastmans (2007) wrote "nursing is essentially concerned with the care of vulnerable fellow human beings. Patients view nurses as skilled companions who discern the care needs of patients, wanting to provide these needs in a professional fashion. The essence of nursing is the precise integration of expert activity and caring; nursing can therefore be considered to be a moral practice."

The idea of synthesizing caring and skill is the baseline premise for an ethical approach to nursing. The idea of caring is subjective. Care is attune to such emotions as love and happiness, suggesting that the ethical approach of any nurse must include a human and empathetic approach. Care must also be balanced with practical skill, or any loving person could be qualified as a nurse. The basic tenets of professionalism suggest that skill and practical knowledge must be balanced with the more artistic qualities of any person.