How Ethics Influence Nursing

NB: We do not resell your papers. Upon ordering, we do an original paper exclusively for you.

NB: All your data is kept safe from the public.

Ethics in Nursing

Ethics plays a considerable part in human society. Used to decide how individuals are supposed to interact with each other, conduct themselves or judge their actions. In nursing, ethical considerations take center stage, as the relationship between the nurse and the patient predisposes the former to take ethics into account. The ultimate goal of a qualified nurse is to deliver and promote positive outcomes for their patients, provide care and support for the people that require it. In many cases, this task entails understanding and deciding what course of action is most beneficial to the patient and will lead to the best possible end result.

Sources of nursing Ethical Dilemmas

Special situations that present a decision-making problem within a specific framework are called ethical dilemmas. In many cases, ethical dilemmas are rooted in an inability to determine which outcome is to be considered superior. In the field of nursing, ethical dilemmas are especially important, as human life often depends on the decisions a nurse makes. For example, nurses often face difficulty in the task of protecting their patient’s rights. A nurse may believe that the patient is concealing important medical information from the staff, but feel that respecting the person’s privacy takes priority. In this case, a decision needs to be made using the medical professional’s own discretion.

Personal experience and Common Ethical Dilemmas

While I do not have a particular dilemma in mind that I am comfortable with sharing, I can discuss an issue that I have heard a lot about. In an instance where the patient is discovered to suffer from an illness or a particular condition, their family and close ones may want to conceal the information from them for certain reasons. This problem pertains to the category of protecting a person’s rights. Be it because of an individual’s tendencies or possible negative reactions, families are often concerned about such issues.

Choices

In this case, the choice for a nursing professional is binary – only two possible outcomes. A nurse can either respect the patient’s right to be informed and tell them about their condition or prefer to prioritize their well-being and happiness. In an instance where the patient is likely to harm themselves mentally or physically, the second option might seem to be preferable. The ultimate decision can only be made by the nurse and their priorities in a specific situation.

My Approach

In my personal opinion, it is better to be open and honest with the patient, respect their rights as an individual and assume that the person will act in their own best interest. I think that this approach is best suited for building trust and promoting cooperation between the nursing professional and the patient. Treating patients with dignity and recognizing their autonomy is the most important aspect of nursing to me.

Article Addressing the Issue

Many articles on the subject of nurses’ disclosure of information have been made, and reaching a consensus on an ethical dilemma seems impossible. Janine Fiesta argues that a nurse’s practice should be dictated by the patient’s right to know about their own body. In her work, she emphasizes the importance of informed consent, while noting that practitioners in some states can disregard its principles depending on the situation.

Janine concludes by saying that a professional can either allow or deny access to medical data records depending on their personal assessment of the case. This decision is made about the patient’s well-being and health and must be properly documented. The article presents an overview of an ethical issue while representing both sides of the issue.

The Article’s Influence

Reading this article I have managed to gain a better understanding of the driving factors being decision-making in the case of a dilemma, and understand the opposing position more thoroughly. I think that in the future, It will allow me to approach similar issues with more nuance and promote better outcomes for patients.

A Response to a Topical Article

The article I want to examine is on alcohol use among nursing students. I think that this issue is extremely important, as it is a big signifier for a larger systemic problem and a significant hindrance to the medical system. People who are striving to provide support to others and have the duty of ensuring a high level of care need to be monitored especially hard.

Alcohol Use, Misuse, and Abuse Among Nursing Students

The article identifies a topical issue that is rarely covered by the research. The degree to which nursing students consume alcohol and how it influences their education is unknown.

Purposes

The paper strives to study the perceptions on risks and protective behaviors of alcohol use among students, as well as to identify substance use policies.

Methods

The researchers have screened the participants for alcohol misuse by employing AUDIT-C. Afterward, their thoughts on the matter and self-perception were recorded. The data obtained primarily concerned alcohol consumption behaviors. Four focus groups consisting of undergraduate students were used.

Conclusions

The research has brought about the discussion of the factors contributing to alcohol misuse among nursing students. Large amounts of stress and the societal facilitation of alcohol consumption greatly contribute to the issue, making alcohol’s influence on future nursing professionals a large issue.

The Article’s Significance

Nursing education and the problems often associated with it can be easily overlooked. The need to bring attention to the issue to make significant changes in the nursing education system is crucial. As the professionals that are tasked with directly supporting others, it is the education’s system first priority to train and prepare capable individuals to help society to function.

My Response

In my option, the article accomplishes its purposes rather well. The paper effectively recognizes a big problem in the nursing sphere and serves as a stepping stone for further research. With more coverage on the issues of nursing students, better nursing education can be achieved in the near future.

My Responsibilities as an NP

I think that the use of alcohol is not the optimal solution to the difficulties faced by nursing students. The need to establish better, healthier coping mechanisms for stress is apparent. Personally, I would try to promote groups activities that are suited for relieving stress in a healthier manner and contribute to building a strong, supportive community.

References

Fiesta, J (1988) Nurses’ Duty to Disclose. Nursing Management.

The article of choice is: Nair, J. M., Nemeth, L. S., Sommers, M., Newman, S., & Amella, E. (2016). Alcohol Use, Misuse, and Abuse Among Nursing Students. Journal of Addictions Nursing, 27(1), 12–23. Web.

Click Here To Order Now!