ETHICS IN NURSING

Ethics in Nursing

Ethics in Nursing



Introduction

The integral part of the foundation of nursing is ethics. Nursing, as the profession deals with the health and well being of the patients including sick, injured, vulnerable etc. The profession of nursing embraces the prevention of illness and encompasses protection from illness, thus, requires ethics as its prime foundation. Ethical codes in this connection comprised of main goals, values and objectives of the profession. This study will primarily deal with ethical perspective in the profession of nursing in accordance with a case study. In brief, the case can be described as Mr. E, a 67 year old person, who is refusing the treatment that could save his life. However, Dr. G is consistently insisting Mr. E to put him on a ventilator and installing a tube for feeding, but because of his refusal Mr. B has been contacted, who is the legal nominee of Mr. E to decide on his behalf. Though, when Mr. B was contacted he was not sure what to do; thus, he decides to contact Mr. H, but could not reach him and leave him the message. Soon after getting the message, Mr. H establishes, contact with Mr. B, however, could not reach him; consequently he rushes to hospital, and communicate with Dr. G about the situation and give him permission to put Mr. E on ventilator. This study will attempt to answer several questions, discussed below.

Code of Ethics In Accordance With this Case Study

American Nurses Association has stated ethical standards that should be followed by every nurse in order to secure the patient's right as well as rights of nurses. According to the provision 4, that is relevant to this study, a nurse is accountable and responsible for individual nursing practice and decides the suitable allocation of tasks consistent with the nurse's obligation to offer optimum care to the patient. This first clause of the provision (4.1) states, that a nurse shall be held accountable for its judgment and actions taken regarding nursing practices (The American Nurses Association, 2001).

How this code would impact your professional decision in this situation?

This code, on the one hand, would bind me and Dr. G, to wait till Mr. B personally appear before the Dr. G and give him the consent for putting Mr. E into ventilator. However, as Mr. E has not nominated Mr. H to decide medical treatment for him, thus ...