The patient is at the center of the nursing profession in the correctional environment. The fact that the patient is in confinement is just a factor of their position, and it has no bearing on how the nurse practices or sees the patient.
In 1950, the ANA established its first code of ethics. It has undergone many modifications to reflect advancements and changes in nursing research, technology, legislation, and general difficulties.
Human dignity, secrecy, moral virtue, and healthcare as a right are among the themes covered by the standards, split into nine sections. According to the American Nurses Association, each provision addresses essential aspects of nursing in the twenty-first century.
If you are a nurse or intend to become one, you must be constantly aware of these ethical concerns, which we have listed here to help you get started.
A Guideline To Ethical Nursing Issues
Nurses’ Code of Ethics
According to the American Nurses Association, the code is beneficial in healthcare settings because it reaffirms the nurse’s core values and obligations, defines the boundaries of duty and loyalty, and defines the nurse’s responsibilities beyond individual patient interactions.
Nurse managers make plenty of choices daily and must retain ethical integrity to guarantee their patients’ and employees’ health, safety, and well-being. They are actively working to resolve legal and ethical issues in nursing that they encounter at work.
Examples of Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing
The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics establishes a framework by which registered nurses may evaluate ethical problems in nursing. However, the way it deals with ethical issues varies depending on the circumstance. When nurses are not adequately prepared to do their responsibilities, an ethical problem may arise in healthcare institutions.
Nurses who observe a coworker’s lack of expertise are faced with the ethical problem of whether or not to inform their nurse management.
Nurse supervisors may work hard to educate their nurses on the Code of Ethics and the Code of Ethics for their particular medical facility to help solve this ethical issue. Nurse supervisors may also offer recurrent problem training to their nurses regularly.
Developing boundaries with patients is one example of a frequent ethical issue nurses face. Nurses and nurse managers dedicate their lives to ensuring that patients get the care they need; thus, professional boundaries may be difficult to establish.
Patients must not place undue reliance on nurses, nor should they form sexual connections or give them presents. Nurse supervisors have the authority to act when patients or nurses violate legal and moral limits.
Patient confidentiality is another ethical concern in nursing. Nurses and nurse managers have access to a patient’s medical data and history, which they cannot share with anybody other than the patient morally or legally. Nurses should act in the best interests of their patients and read some Nursing Career Tips, knowing that their privacy and medical information must be protected.
Examples of Common Ethical Nursing Situations & Ethics
Honesty vs. withholding information
To protect their emotions, family members may wish to conceal medical information from ill individuals. Patients, on the other hand, have the right to be informed about their medical problems. It may be challenging to decide how to communicate this knowledge, particularly if it contradicts the family’s values. The American Nurses Association promotes honesty, or truthfulness, as a critical component of nurse-patient interactions.
Science vs. spirituality
Healthcare, which is based on research and outcomes, may obstruct religious or personal convictions. Medical treatments and life-saving measures are prohibited in certain faiths. Nurses engage in medical treatment to alleviate pain and enable patients to focus on self-care. Patients and their families with strong religious or spiritual beliefs may be more concerned about following a rigorous set of rules.
The American Nurses Association Code of Ethics says that nurses must respect the patient’s “unique characteristics,” such as “lifestyle, moral values, and religious views.” On the other hand, it “does not mean that the nurse personally condones such views or behaviors.”
Healthcare needs vs. resource allocation
Nurse managers are increasingly in conflict with budgetary restrictions and patient demands as healthcare costs rise. Patients are in danger of not receiving the treatment they need since many medical institutions have limited resources.
These resources include anything from hospital devices to medical personnel. According to research, nurse leaders should include their employees in budgeting to better grasp the requirements and expectations.
Autonomy vs. beneficence
Nurses must give recommended medication, but patients have the option to reject it. Despite clearly stated requirements, patient autonomy may go against medical recommendations. Patients have the legal right to reject any medical treatment.
The American Nurses Association emphasizes the need for nurses and nurse managers to understand patient backgrounds and unique situations to educate patients of medical necessity.
“Using ethical principles to arrive at a solution should be done in an environment of care, respect, transparency, and honesty,” according to the American National Association. This procedure should be based on a solid ethical decision-making model that incorporates the most up-to-date evidence-based practice guidelines.”
How to Deal With Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing
Before becoming a registered nurse, nurses must complete several years of study and practical training. There is Free LPN Training that one can attend to. However, dealing with actual ethical problems in nursing may be much more complex than addressing hypothetical ones in textbooks.
Nurses may acquire experience and engage with patients over time to understand how to cope with ethical issues. Although nurses are compassionate, they need to establish professional boundaries with each of their patients early on in their employment. Nurses may consult the ANA Code of Ethics if they are unsure whether or not something is ethical.
Nurses may benefit from being surrounded by experienced nurses and nurse supervisors. When faced with a scenario they don’t know how to handle, they may turn to nurse supervisors for help.
Nurse supervisors may foster instructional settings by discussing ethical problems with the nurses on their units regularly. Nurses may learn from others’ errors and handle ethical problems and difficulties by having open discussions about ethical issues.
Help Avoid Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing
When thinking about ethical problems, it’s a good idea to recognize the problem and the individuals involved. Take into account the pertinent facts, laws, and concepts. You must attempt to evaluate and identify potential courses of action, after which you must put the answer into action.
Nurse supervisors may work essential to teach their nurses on the Code of Ethics and the Code of Ethics for their particular medical facility to help alleviate this ethical issue. Nurse supervisors may also offer recurrent problem training to their nurses regularly.
