Ethics of Vaccination in Childhood Essay

NURS_6512_Week_11_Assignment_Rubric

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Case study A

The assigned scenario is Case Study A which involves the parents of a five-year-old boy who brought him for the examination required before joining kindergarten. The parents are opposed to the vaccination of their boy. This paper discusses the health assessment information needed to achieve a diagnosis, my response to the scenario using evidence-based practice, and the justification of my response.

Health Assessment Information

Srinath et al. (2018) highlight that gathering a comprehensive medical history, including any previous illnesses, allergies, and chronic conditions that may affect the child’s overall health, is crucial before taking action. More information assessed is the family’s history of chronic illnesses and history of vaccine-preventable diseases to understand the potential risks the child might face from exposure within the household and its environment. Also, the care provider should obtain the child’s immunization record to identify any previous vaccinations, determine the current immunization status, and any effect of administering the past vaccine. The health assessment would also involve performing a thorough physical examination to assess the child’s overall health, growth, and development. Ethics of Vaccination in Childhood Essay

Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines

As an advanced practice nurse, I would use evidence-based information from reliable journals to explain to vaccine-hesitant parents that studies demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of vaccines in reducing the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases. Current evidence-based literature highlights that childhood vaccinations prevent serious and potentially life-threatening diseases (Olson et al., 2020). I would also discuss with the parents the potential risks associated with not vaccinating their child, such as increased susceptibility to contagious diseases and the potential for outbreaks in schools and communities.

While responding to the scenario, I would promote shared informed decision-making with the parents. Throughout the conversation, I will remain open-minded and non-judgmental conversation. With studies showing that vaccine hesitancy influences disease resurgence, I would counsel parents on the importance of herd immunity (Shen & Dubey, 2019). I would caution the parents that deciding not to vaccinate can have broader implications for the child’s health and others in the community. According to Olson et al. (2020), providing support in decision-making and offering technological resources such as credible sites and websites for learning about childhood vaccination are effective measures for increasing vaccine acceptance by parents. All in all, I will share evidence-based information to help parents make an informed choice. Ethics of Vaccination in Childhood Essay

Ethical Considerations

Ethical considerations of autonomy would also anchor the conversation with the parents, the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence (Rus & Groselj, 2021). With that said, I would respect their autonomy to make decisions regarding their child’s health while ensuring they fully understand their choice’s potential consequences. While the goal is to provide information, the parents ultimately have the right to decide about their child’s healthcare.  Therefore, I would respect their choice even if it differs from my recommendation.

As an Advanced Practice Nurse, I would begin by having an open and non-confrontational conversation with the parents and respecting their ideas. I would explain how vaccines work, the diseases they prevent, their safety, and their associated risks. Ethics of Vaccination in Childhood Essay

References

Olson, O., Berry, C., & Kumar, N. (2020). Addressing parental vaccine hesitancy towards childhood vaccines in the United States: A systematic literature review of communication interventions and strategies. Vaccines, 8(4), 590. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8040590

Rus, M., & Groselj, U. (2021). Ethics of vaccination in childhood-a framework based on the four principles of biomedical ethics. Vaccines, 9(2), 113. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9020113

Shen, S. C., & Dubey, V. (2019). Addressing vaccine hesitancy: Clinical guidance for primary care physicians working with parents. Canadian Family Physician, 65(3), 175–181.

Srinath, S., Jacob, P., Sharma, E., & Gautam, A. (2019). Clinical practice guidelines for assessment of children and adolescents. Indian journal of psychiatry, 61(Suppl 2), 158–175. https://doi.org/10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_580_18

This week we will learn about situations where a patient’s wishes about his or her health conflict with evidence, your own experience, or a family’s wishes. This may create an ethical dilemma. What do you do when these situations occur? Ethics of Vaccination in Childhood Essay

CASE STUDY A

The parents of a 5-year-old boy have accompanied their son for his required physical examination before starting kindergarten. His parents are opposed to him receiving any vaccines.

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Write a detailed one-page narrative (not a formal paper) explaining the health assessment information required for a diagnosis of your selected patient (include the scenario number). Explain how you would respond to the scenario as an advanced practice nurse using evidence-based practice guidelines and applying ethical considerations. Justify your response using at least three different references from current evidence-based literature. Ethics of Vaccination in Childhood Essay