Ethical Dilemmas Within The Health Care Setting

Nurses face ethical dilemmas every day, and although there are no right or wrong answers, there are ethical principles nurses use to base their ethical decision. The American Nursing Association (ANA) offers a Code of Ethics for Nurses that provides a framework to help support nurses with their ethical dilemmas they encounter at work. One common ethical dilemma nurses are faced with is patient’s reproductive rights. Pro-choice versus pro-life is an argument that may never be resolved. If the nurse is pro-life will he/she be able to support the patient’s right for an abortion? And if the nurse is pro-choice can he/she support the patient’s decision to continue a pregnancy that threatens the patient’s life? It’s difficult to separate your own bias with your nursing practice on issues this personal. The nurses should understand their own beliefs, knowledge and behavior regarding the subject before they can help the patient. Watson’s Theory of Human Caring can be applied in this situation by having the nurse assist the patient in defining the range of possible responses to the situation so the patient can develop the best answer for themselves. The nurse should provide support regardless of the patient’s decision and the nurses beliefs. A nurse who tries to attempt persuade a patient in their decision based on the nurse’s beliefs

However, the decision to aid patients to abort may be against the values of the nurse. Nevertheless, if abortion is against the moral, ethical, and religious views of the nurse then it is permissible to refuse to participate in the exercise. The nurse has a right to refuse to participate in abortion except for cases of emergency or when the life of the mother is in danger. The law protects health workers from being forced to participate in such procedures (Patil, Dode and Ahirrao, 2014). However, pro-choice proponents feel that the refusal to help patients undermines care and isolates providers.

Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare Healthcare Values and Ethics Western Governors University Jean Renelien 000809006 January 16, 2018 A1: Potential Ethical Dilemmas As healthcare providers, we are often faced with situations and decisions that require us to make ethical and moral decisions. As a healthcare provider, we take an oath to do no harm and put our patients first. I am a licensed registered respiratory therapist, and in my role, I have a duty to care for my patients and provide adequate treatment and respiratory support that falls within my scope of practice.

I blew the whistle in this situation when the lack of ethical care for residents and work ethics fell short of the normal standards. As a care provider one must always be aware of that the dignity of the client when it comes to their care. I return to my regular position after three months of working graveyards to find that the residents were being brought to the dining room in the hospital gowns. There was no regard for the resident’s dignity. Their backs were exposed and often the gown was exposing their chest. No one took in count how the resident must feel going into the dining room so exposed. The staff could of a least put on clothing over top of the gown or a sweater to hide what they were wearing. And use a lap blanket so they

(1.1) In the healthcare profession various dilemmas can be encountered, sometimes everyday that put a professional in a position where they must make certain choices that can be classified as difficult or complicated depending on the individual or the situation. In the nursing profession not only do they have to consider the welfare of the patients but they also have to regard their wishes, which may create a conflict of interests in regards to promotion of well-being which would lead to the importance of informed consent. Respect for a person 's autonomy as well as respect for the individual are essential requirements; however so is promoting public interest.

Nurses are constantly challenged by changes which occur in their practice environment and are under the influence of internal or external factors. Due to the increased complexity of the health system, nowadays nurses are faced with ethical and legal decisions and often come across dilemmas regarding patient care. From this perspective a good question to be raised would be whether or not nurses have the necessary background, knowledge and skills to make appropriate legal and ethical decisions. Even though most nursing programs cover the ethical and moral issues in health care, it is questionable if new nurses have the depth of knowledge and understanding of these issues and apply them in their practice

Given that there are five professionals, eight paraprofessionals, and a host of patients that utilize the health care services, it is necessary to address this ethical problem with the utmost care. Austin, Schirick, and Jones (2013) cautions that using assistive staff in the health care setting is an area that warrants ongoing monitoring. This manner must be addressed reasons. Firstly, the other professionals in the office could be victims of this type of behavior in the future. For this reason, it is necessary to address this concern immediately. Secondly, there is the possibility that this has happened before this particular incidence. It was by chance that this incident was recognized by the nurse practitioner (ANP) as the patient brought the bottle into the office. Thirdly, Stephanie could give the other paraprofessionals the idea that this is acceptable behavior.

Healthcare professionals will be faced with ethical dilemmas throughout their career, particularly in the hospital environment. Having an education regarding professional healthcare ethics will provide some direction in how to best address these dilemmas at a time when either the patient or their family is in need of making decisions for themselves or their family member. It can be difficult for healthcare professionals to weigh professional protocol against their own personal beliefs and ethical understandings when determining critical care for their patient.

The following ethics program will highlight some key ethical issues facing the healthcare industry as a whole, as well as hospice agencies specifically. In this program, I will reference ethical principles used today as well as reference historical ethicists and philosophers that backup the items outlined in this ethics program. There are two major topics to be discussed. The first will be how to treat patients that are at the end of their life, which includes their loved ones as well. A specific issue to be addressed in terms of patient care will be the option of doctor-assisted suicide, often called euthanasia, and why hospice should not support this. The other issue is that of data security and privacy, and how all patient information should be handled in the healthcare environment.

The relationship between immigrants and health care is both legal and ethical. This article explores the realities of the United States legal and moral obligations to illegal and legal immigrants in regards to healthcare access. The article examines the Canadian 2011 Federal Court of Appeal's decision in Toussaint- v. Attorney General in which Toussaint was denied medical coverage and it was determined that aliens where unable to receive health benefits. The United States does not provide medical services to illegal immigrants except in certain emergency circumstances to pregnant women and children, in which Medicaid services are provided. The author explores the idea that emergency department expenditures were more than three times as

Staff starts to get really excited to have a new manager, after four months without one. The charge nurses on the unit were excited to have a new manager who will provide feedback and not afraid to discipline staff. According to the new manager’s interview, she has experience firing staff who do not follow her guidelines. The charge nurses had a meeting where the interim manager and new manager where they met up and discussed what needed revamping and what difficulties the staff had providing feedback to our colleagues. The charge nurses previously felt unsupported and didn't know how to hold their colleagues responsible for their actions. It was difficult because they would get push back from their colleagues, with no feedback from their

When I first joined a surgical practice in the 90’s. I was brought in under a unique model. Most established practices at the time, would hire a new physician as an employee and after a set amount of time, allowed the physician to buy into the practice for a large dollar amount making them a full partner. I was hired with the guarantee that after one year I would be made a partner and receive my stock certificate to the limited liability corporation (LLC) for $1. During the first 2 years may bass salary was less than my partners to make up for the decrease productivity of a new doctor and the increased overhead associated with a practice start up. Some may consider this a buy in of some degree. Above our base compensation, each member

The role of ethics in organizational behavior is the underlying factor to the success and longevity of any organization. A set of rules and guidelines focusing on promoting safety, trust, and responsible practice within the workplace must be established internally. Organizations develop code of ethics that center upon the promotion of good. Ethics are vital in developing trusting relationships between employees and administration within.

Ethical issues in nursing will always be an ongoing learning process. Nurses are taught in nursing school what should be done and how. Scenarios are given on tests with one right answer. However, there are situations that nurses may encounter that may have multiple answers and it is hard to choose one. “Ethical directives are not always clearly evident and people sometimes disagree about what is right and wrong” (Butts & Rich, 2016). When an ethical decision is made by a nurse, there must be a logical justification and not just emotions.

Everyday, healthcare professionals are faced with ethical dilemmas in their workplace. These ethical dilemmas need to be addressed in order to provide the best care for the patient. Healthcare professionals have to weigh their own personal beliefs, professional beliefs, ethical understandings, and several other factors to decide what the best care for their patient might be. This is illustrated in Mrs. Smith’s case. Mrs. Smith is an 85 year old who has suffered from a large stroke that extends to both of her brains hemispheres which has left her unconscious. She only has some brain stem reflexes and requires a ventilator for support. She is unable to communicate how she wishes to proceed with her healthcare. Mrs. Smith’s children, Sara and Frank have different views regarding their mother’s plan of care. The decision that needs to be made is whether to prolong Mrs. Smith’s life, as Sara would like to do, or stop all treatments and care, as Frank feels his mother would want. In the healthcare field, there are situations similar to this case that happen daily where moral and ethical judgment is necessary to guide the decision that would be best for the patient. The purpose of this paper is to explore and discuss, compare and contrast the personal and professional values, ethical principles, and legal issues regarding Mrs. Smith’s quality of life and further plan of care.