Let's discuss the topic of
ethics, values in nursing care.
Now, while in your nursing practice or
maybe even in your clinical rotation.
You may face an ethical dilemma,
so, we're going to discuss a
little bit about this today.
So, before we get started,
let's define actually what we're talking about,
between values morals and ethics.
When we talk about values,
Really, we define that as our own
personal principles and ideas,
that, really help us decide
what's right and what's wrong.
Now, this is different from morals,
where this is where actual beliefs,
that are formed out of our core values.
In this context, helps,
drive the rules that govern our behavior.
And lastly ethics are those moral principles,
that help direct our behavior
and how we apply their morals.
Many times, as a practicing nurse, we
are going to face ethical dilemmas.
So the ANA code of ethics
has provided us a framework
to help us guide through those ethical dilemmas,
when we need to make a decision.
So, we're going to take a look
at some nursing attributes,
to make sure we keep ethics
at the forefront of our care.
Now, at the top of this graphic,
you see commitment to the client.
Now, this seems to make a lot of sense,
but many times, we have our own
personal values and beliefs,
that can sometimes impede
the client's actual needs.
So this is a key piece to remember,
that we have to remain committed to the client.
Now, promoting and advocating for the
health and wellness of the client,
is really important in regards to ethics.
And the advocacy piece is a typical action,
that, we may need for an ethical dilemma.
Now next we are responsible and
accountable for all the care that we give.
Here's something we may not think about,
but engaging in advancing nursing practice.
Now, this can mean from advancing
our degree, for example.
Or just making sure that our knowledge base,
is current with the current nursing
practice and the populations we serve.
Now, holistically nursing
is something that we look at
the dignity and uniqueness of the individual
and interdisciplinary and collaborating
with our health care team,
to promote wellness is important
in regards to ethical care.
Now, when we're speaking about ethical dilemmas,
something to keep in mind,
that these actually occur,
when values are going to conflict.
Now, to resolve these the opinions the facts
and the values have to be
identified and separated.
Because practice requires nurses
to respect the value of others,
but also do our best to respect
our own personal values.
So, as a practicing nurse, there are many times,
that you're going to run into
a healthcare ethical dilemma.
Here are four big topics, that
you may face in your practice.
The first one being quality of life.
This is going to include end of life care,
cancer therapy, physician assistant suicide
and do not resuscitate.
One example of this, is many
times, this is where the nurse
has to advocate for their patient.
Such as with cancer therapy, sometimes the patient
may decide that they do not
want to pursue treatment.
However, the family members may feel otherwise.
Again, this is where advocacy for
your patient must be the forefront,
for their client’s needs.
Next, is genetic screening.
This could be detection of a gene,
that may not be causing symptoms
or for which there is no cure.
This may come into play with
maternal nursing for example.
Now, care at the end of life.
This is something personally
as a nurse that I have seen
and had to navigate through this ethical dilemma.
So, sustaining care when interventions
are unlikely to sustain life.
Now, some of our interventions as
you can imagine, can be invasive
and as a nurse, this is things that we consider,
when we're performing these on our client.
Also, as a nurse many times we're
thinking about these interventions,
may really result in a poor quality of
life, to help keep the patient alive.
And that's something personally and
many nurses out there may have faced.
And lastly is just access to health care.
Ensuring that all individuals,
have a right to care
and for health and wellness and
even just the resources they need,
to treat their illness.
So, talking about moral distress,
this can be described as the anguish experience,
when a person feels unable that they
can't act according to their own values.
So, this is something we need to be aware of,
and how do we alleviate this.
Well, if we provide
interdisciplinary ethics education,
this can give us the knowledge base,
of how to better prepare, how
to navigate these situations.
Also, just sharing those stories,
with about professional perspectives
and increasing that inner collaborative practice.
And again that's going to
give you more perspectives,
in regards to an ethical dilemma.
Now, addressing clinical situations
that bring about moral distress.
If you recall, we talked about those
four big domains of healthcare dilemmas,
that can be really important
to talk about this beforehand,
because there's a good chance that you're
going to face these in your practice.
And of course, engaging in
with peers or someone that you trust.
Now, let's talk about
Many times, when we're facing an ethical dilemma,
we've got to remember that we
have many people around us.
So, building a consensus
about a specific patient case,
can help us make a decision and
guide us when we need to do so.
Also, a nurse's point of
view offers a unique voice,
in the resolution of these dilemmas,
but often, these decisions are
made by collaborating with others.