Ethical Dilemmas In Nursing & the Application of the 4 Ways of Knowing

Professional nursing ethics plays a significant role when it comes to performing this job successfully.  In any particular situation a nurse should demonstrate her professionalism and knowledge. Everyday behavior of nurses, the style of their job depends on many factors. In this case, it is possible to talk about one’s personal qualities, and overall corporate culture of a particular medical institution. Unfortunately, we often deal with the emotional and moral indifference (apathy) of the float RNs.

Different improper actions that are contrary to the norms of the Code of Ethics, nurses are trying to justify because of the economic situation, the presence of deep personal problems and other factors. However, professional workers are always guided by the fact that in similar situations they would never justify unethical behavior or incorrect actions according to their patients.

In our particular situation, it is possible to say that the fact of negligence and unethical behavior towards the patient had the place to be. Often we encounter in everyday life with such situations. This is due to the fact that the nurses, who come to the path of mutual understanding and help, do not have enough skills to carry out such activities.

As for own experience with these types of situations, it is possible to mention about the patient (65 years old), who suffers from urinary incontinence. He is a widower who lives with his son and daughter in 2 bedroom apartment with all amenities. He has one grandchild who warmly loves his grandfather. The patient is concerned about returning home because he does not know how the family would react to his problem. His son and grandson visit him every day, but he refuses to meet with them.

The nurse is assigned to provide the ventilation of the room at least 4 times a day for 20 minutes, using the deodorizer, monitor the color, transparency, and the smell of urine, clean the room, and monitor the hygiene of the bed. However, the patient tells that the nurse did not change bedding and underwear as she usually did it before. A few days later it happened again. In this case, the nurse enters unethically in relation to the elderly person. She does not fulfill her direct obligations, which in the future may lead to adverse consequences. There is no doubt that the nurse must not “assume responsibility beyond their level of experience or qualification” (Silvestri, 2016, p. 45), but in this case we can only trace her unethical behavior or incorrect actions according to the patients. As for the ethical considerations that must be taken into account, it is possible to say that it is critical to talk to her to discuss this particular situation because actually “the nurse cannot refuse to float unless a union contract guarantees that nurses can work only in a specified area or the nurse can prove lack of knowledge for the performance of assigned tasks” (Silvestri, 2016, p. 45).

Hence, taking the above-mentioned information into consideration, it is possible to draw a conclusion that serious errors in diagnosis and treatment are fraught with trials. But the majority of the lawsuits were caused by ethical problems, including the inability of some doctors to find a common language with patients. However, there is a false impression that the patient is always right, and that the doctor should not exacerbate the already difficult situation of the person who has got in trouble. Meanwhile, treatment is a mutually related process and it actually depends on the efforts of both sides. Both the patient and the health care worker must learn to carefully relate to their own and others’ health.

References

Silvestri, L. A. (2016). Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN® Examination, 7e (Saunders Comprehensive Review for Nclex-Rn). Saunders.

Sachedina, A. (2009). Islamic biomedical ethics: principles and application. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
Available at:

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]
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