Ethical Dilemma Of The Patient Essay
Ethical Dilemma Of The Patient Essay
ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES OF Nursing
Many confusing factors make it a task to establish, monitor and sustain ethical and legal issues in nursing. Everyone has various personal views based on experiences of life, religion, education and political affiliations, all nurses should be aware about nursing laws and ethics and understand how nursing legal issues can affect them. The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics is very influential to nurses because it is used as a framework for making ethical decisions with all aspects of health care. The foundation in any successful professional practice, are based on ethics, values, morals and principles from which the ANA Code of Ethics are formatted. Moral leadership in nursing . Ethical Dilemma Of The Patient Essay
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Nurses should respect the patient’s belief even when it is not right according to what their own values are. As nurses we perform different tasks such as: taking care of patient, decision making, as well as acting as patient advocate. Nurses are accountable for their ethical conduct (ANA, 2004) .It is important that Nurses are aware of their professional ethical and moral principles of their duties. Nurses need to have a clear understanding of the ethical principles in decision making and consider their own values and beliefs and the values and beliefs of their patients.
There are several laws in the United States of America that affects nursing and how the nurse should care for and relate to her patient. Only a few of these laws apply to the situations reviewed in both case studies and those are the ones that will be elaborated on. In the case of the woman on the respirator, the statutory law will be applicable. Under statutory law, “patients have the right to declare their wishes regarding treatment decisions” (Koernig Blais & Hayes, 2011). According to the case study, the patient did not have an Advance Healthcare Directive, therefore statutory laws will not be violated in the family’s decisions regarding her care.
In the case of the impaired nurse, any or all of the following legal aspects could apply: The nurse’s license
There are several laws in the United States of America that affects nursing and how the nurse should care for and relate to her patient. Only a few of these laws apply to the situations reviewed in both case studies and those are the ones that will be elaborated on. In the case of the woman on the respirator, the statutory law will be applicable. Under statutory law, “patients have the right to declare their wishes regarding treatment decisions” (Koernig Blais & Hayes, 2011). According to the case study, the patient did not have an Advance Healthcare Directive, therefore statutory laws will not be violated in the family’s decisions regarding her care.
In the case of the impaired nurse, any or all of the following legal aspects could apply: The nurse’s license
Professional, Ethical and Legal issues in nursing Essay
According to American Nurses Association (ANA), (2010) “the nurse promotes, advocates for and strives to protect the heath, safety and right of the patient” (p. 6). Nursing responsibilities should be acted at the highest standard and must be based on legal and ethical obligations. Healthcare provider’s perception and judgment in the patient’s well being as well as taking into account the right of the patient in every action is one of the key elements in nursing practice. International Council of Nurses (ICN), (2006) states “The nurse at all times maintains standards of personal conduct which reflect well on the profession and enhance public confidence” (p. 3). Furthermore, nursing action guided by theory and principles of moral and legal…show more content…
Mrs. Keller, 86 years old was diagnosed with dementia with signs of behavioral problems. She can still walk independently but needs minimum assistance in some basic activities of daily living. Ethical Dilemma Of The Patient Essay. Around 3am in the morning during the hourly rounds to check the patients, Mrs. Keller was found by two carers on her bed doubly incontinent. When asked by the carers if they could wash and dress her in clean nightclothes, Mrs. Keller refused and started to be agitated but the care workers insisted. Mrs. Keller was uncooperative and very aggressive during personal care, she showed superfluous challenging behavior during care, but the carers did not listen to Mrs. Keller and yet stay composed, while focusing on their duties of care. Mrs. Keller remained in an agitated state but feels more comfortable and appeased as shown in her behavior after the care was given. Decision making and best interests of the patient in the care for people with mental health problems are one of the main concerns in nursing practice. Healthcare professionals should be knowledgeable enough to practice the legal code regarding decision making and protection of the patient with mental health problems (NMC, 2008). Focusing on dementia, it is not constantly possible to involve the dementia sufferers in the decision making course of their care without encouragement and assistance by Ethical Dilemma Of The Patient Essay.
