Ethical Decision-Making Model

Decision-making in the field of psychology refers to a cognitive process that results in a selection among multiple possible solutions in a situation (Colman, 2008). Decision-making is based on available information from the environment as well as intrinsic information and existing schemas (Rogerson, Gottlieb, Handelsman, Knapp & Younggren, 2011). These internal schemas, along with knowledge and personal preferences, influence the decision-making process. Ethical decision-making differs from "normal" decision-making in that ethical standards influence the decision maker 's choice (Rogerson et al., 2011). Numerous professions and organization adhere to some form of ethical standards including business,

The NMC (2015) are the providers of the Nursing Code of Conduct. The code contains the professional standards to which all nurses must uphold, allowing for accountability of patients that come into their care. As well as the code of conduct, all nursing professionals have a responsibility to develop their knowledge in relation to law within clinical practice, and furthermore, ethical frameworks that are linked to judgment and decision making when providing care (Savage & Moore, 2006). In light of this, the overall aim of this essay is to elaborate on issues surrounding law and ethics in nursing. To do so, a case study has been chosen from a previous clinical experience. The focus of the case study will be on the decision of withdrawal from life sustaining treatment. Emphasis will be largely on the law and ethics concerning the issue of withdrawal from treatment. Moreover, the ethics and law involved in the palliative/advanced end of life care planning and decision making. In order to protect the identity and uphold the confidentiality of the case study, a pseudonym will be used throughout. Hendrick (2005) portrays confidentiality as being ‘one of the most important and well established moral obligations of health-care ethics’.

In regards, to ethical dilemmas, I recognize and acknowledge them based on both the AAMFT and the AUCFTI clinic's code of ethics and my own insight. It is important to follow the clinic’s code of ethics, but if something feels off or uncomfortable, you should acknowledge those feelings within yourself and reach out for assistance. Currently, as a student, I would reach out to my supervisor or another staff member if she isn’t available. Your supervisor is always a good source to help you process any questions or concerns. It is also important should anything arise, I would want to be able to have a clear, concise conversation with my clients holding onto and maintaining my boundaries on the issue. Within this process, I would also utilize the Koocher and Keith-Spiegel model for ethical decision-making, as outlined by pages 52 through 54 in Wilcoxon (2014). Ethical decision-making by definition can be difficult, this model allows you to decide what is the correct solution in a less biased way. It additionally, prompts you to provide adequate detail to back up your decision.

Moreover, an emphasis is imposed on the rights of a single patient to commit an act or decision even though it is in contrast with the views of the others. In regards to the ethical dilemma, a nurse could not justify the morality of the two possible choices based on their results and consequences. The Deontological approach would encourage the health care staff as well as the patient to ask themselves the most righteous choice for their situation. With this in mind, a combination of ethical theories can also be employed to give light to the dilemma. In view of this, another ethical approach could be applied to solve the issue, and this is the Right-based approach. This theory also aim to promote the rights of every person, and that, they are indispensable just to make ends meet. However, not all ethical theories can be incorporated in every dilemma in a health care setting because their foundations would contradict one another. In order to provide an effective and efficient solution, nurses should be knowledgeable of the principles enveloping each of the ethical theories and should be wise to apply them in appropriate issues and

While the nursing profession is fulfilling, it is not without challenges. Nurses are faced with a multitude of ethical dilemmas in clinical practice on a daily basis. According to Fant (2012) no matter where nurses function in their diverse roles, they are faced with ethical decisions that can impact them and their patients. Some examples of moral issues that nurses encounter in contemporary nursing practice and research include but not limited to: refusal of treatment, scarcity of resources, disagreement with caregivers, treating patients with impaired decision-making, futile treatment decisions for cancer patients, end-of-life decisions, advanced treatment directives, and euthanasia (Leuter, Petrucci, Mattei, Tabassi, & Lancia, 2013).

Nutrition is an important aspect of health within all age groups. A nurse’s initial assessment is very important to a patient’s nutritional status because during an assessment, many findings can determine the nutritional status of an individual. For example, a simple examination of a patient’s overall appearance can determine whether the patient is malnourished, by evidence of decreased functional status, decreased bone mass, impaired muscle function, immune dysfunction, reduced cognitive function,

Professional or Personal Code Of Ethics for Nurses I believe that the core task of nurses is to preserve life and enhance the quality of life of patient and they focus on the code of ethics to discern wrong from right. However, some situations may require multi-lateral thinking to ensure that the best is achieved for the patients, the institution, and the relations. For instance, the debate about passive and active euthanasia is a controversial issue that affects the execution of roles in the nursing profession. Thus, this paper highlights my personal reflection on professional and personal code of ethics that ought to be taken on euthanasia.

Maintenance of sufficient nutrition is an essential part of the treatment process for any patient admitted to the hospital. Early identification of patients who have a decreased nutrition status or have nutritional deficits helps to increase healing and overall improves the quality of life for a patient. Nutrition is more than just general food; it includes the overall amounts of

According to (Cheon, Coyle, Wiegand & Welsh, 2015), nurses encounter ethical dilemmas in their clinical practice especially those associated with palliative and end-of-life care. Cheon, et al. (2015) survey on Ethical issues experienced by hospice and palliative care nurses identifies the most common ethical dilemmas affecting nurses as: inadequate communication, providing futile care, withdrawal/withhold of life prolonging therapies, and palliative pain management.

`Ethics' is defined as ."..the basis on which people...decide that certain actions are right or wrong and whether one ought to do something or has a right to something"(Rumbold, 1986). In relating `ethics' to nursing care, "Nursing decisions affect people... nurses have the power to good or harm to their patients" (Bandman et al, 2002). In this essay, the author will also identify the most important ethical principles and concepts of Evan's case, will outline the different stages of one's approach to ethical decision-making by utilising the "DECIDE Model for Ethical Decision-Making" founded by Thompson et al (2000) and will make a decision on the best course of action to take as a nurse in this

After studying the model for making moral decision outlined in Rae (2009), the proposed facts is the patient is an elderly illegal immigrant that is in a comatose state. This patient is without insurance. The patient throughout the portfolio will be referred to as Sue Ellen. Sue Ellen was admitted to this facility with a diagnosis of stroke. This is a patient that currently has a history of liver cancer. The ethical dilemma that is now being faced by the healthcare facility is whether or not Sue Ellen should be removed from the Acute Intensive Care Unit (AICU), so that her current room can be occupied by a revenue producing patients that is coming to the healthcare facility to seek care. The hospital business

R.M.’s second nursing diagnosis imbalanced nutrition less than body requirements related to lack of nutrition as evidenced by untouched food trays. This care plan is also evidenced by subjective and objective evidence. In R.M.'s patient chart, the previous nurses had noted subjectively that the patient does not touch food trays and objectively that less than 50% of all meals since hospitalization had been consumed. Patient R.M. needs to improve his nutritional intake so that he can provide his body with

Many people encounter ethical issues and ethical decision-making every day of their lives. Each person’s moral values differ depending on one’s religion, culture, family, etc. These moral or ethical values are of utmost importance for the healthcare professionals, especially nurses. Many professional in the healthcare system are confronted by dilemmas which challenges their morality and give rise to many questions. How does the ethical values of a healthcare professional influence the patient? What role do nurses have in ethical issues? Are nurses impacted by their patient’s ethics? These are some of the questions one would frequently ask when taking the ethical issues of nursing into consideration. Many nurses choose this field to provide care for their patient’s; however, they are often encountered with ethical dilemmas that require understanding of the ethical principles and implementing on rules of the healthcare system they are

The foundation to any ethical decision making process is adherence to the principles of independence and beneficence. The Ethical decision making is a process that can be refined and used in addressing any ethical dilemma. An

Background: Two staff are seen carrying the old woman and throwing her onto her bed. (YouTube) A nursing home along Braddell Road has been suspended from admitting new patients with effect from 12 April after a patient was reported to have been mistreated. The incident at Nightingale Nursing Home came to light after a video of a patient being mistreated was sent to local broadcaster Mediacorp. The footage was shot by a hidden camera on a patient's bedside. In the video, an elderly woman patient is seen sitting stark naked beside a bed with the room ceiling fans on. She is then picked up by two hospital staff and thrown onto a bed, before a staff is shown slapping her on her mouth when she wailed in pain. Reports say the patient has been a resident there for four years and is suffering from stroke. The Ministry of Health (MOH) said it has suspended the nursing home from admitting new patients from 12 April until further notice. The nursing home has also disciplined the staff involved and put in place additional measures such as ward rounds by senior staff, regular meetings with patients and their family members, and management check on staff conduct and patients In a statement to Yahoo! Singapore, a MOH spokesperson said, investigations into the video recording show "significant lapses in the care standards" to the patient in question. "This should not have happened. There should have been tighter supervision of staff rendering care to vulnerable patients. Patient's dignity