A comprehensive understanding of current legal and ethical frameworks facilitates the delivery of appropriate skilled nursing care. Ethical and Legal Issues in nursing The nursing regulatory body, the Nursing and Midwifery Council requires all registered nurses to have an understanding of the ethical and legal principles which underpin all aspects of nursing practice(NMC,2010). While the industry has changed in recent years due to modern healthcare, some ethical issues remain the same. HIRE verified writer $35.80 for a 2-page paper. Nurses need to decide when technological interventions should be used and when hospice is best. Share It. Technology has extended the life of the population, but not the quality. Required fields are marked *, Providing ethical values, duties, and obligations of those in the profession, Serving as the nursing industry’s nonnegotiable ethical standard, Expressing an understanding and vital commitment to people everywhere. But when you’ve made an oath to care for people, how can you kill them? For example, I would never carry out any procedure without gaining the patients consent. One person’s ritual may not be deemed acceptable by another’s religious views, and nurses need to balance the needs of everyone in their care. Unless a patient deems a family member in-the-know, a health care provider cannot offer this information up. ANA said that each of the provisions covers topics important to the challenges of nursing in the 21st century. They can rely on the guidance of nurse managers when it comes to situations they may not know how to address. Examples are unsafe nurse-to-patient ratio, nonresponse by a physician, inappropriate medication orders and refusal of lifesaving treatment by a competent adult patient. Nurses and nurse managers have access to a patient’s records and medical history and cannot ethically or legally release that information to anyone besides the patient. Professional ethics involves the use of reasonable and regular communication, information, medical skills, emotions and doctrines in nursing practice. View all blog posts under Master of Science in Nursing. These are the most prevalent issues nurses face. Some nurses may have also graduated before genomics and genetic testing was common, or patients may try an online genetic profile that put healthcare providers in awkward positions. HIDE THIS PAPER GRAB THE BEST PAPER 98.1% of users find it useful. If the quality of life isn’t good and the patient is on their deathbed, they may choose to end it all. Growth Trends for Related Jobs. Ethical issues can concern technological advancements, such as keeping people alive longer. Another issue in healthcare are when another healthcare member shows incompetence. Education and collaboration with other nurses may help you make hard decisions. Ethics regards standards of moral judgement and professional conduct. Ethical issues spring up when it’s hard to say what is the right thing to do. The ANA Code of Ethics provides a standard by which nurse managers can assess ethical issues in nursing. The ethical ideals of each nurse must be weighed with the laws of the state along with providing the most ethical care for the patient. Dealing with ethical issues will always be a factor in the field of nursing. Ethical and Legal Issues in Nursing are applicable for any nurse, from beginner to expert. Even though nursing is a fast-paced job with new challenges daily, many nurse managers report facing similar ethical dilemmas. Nurses share the status of a patient’s condition with family members and explain what treatments or medications can be used to help, but sometimes family members don’t want the patient to know themselves. Ethical Concerns For the nurse in a traditional medical setting, ethical decisions occur occasionally and at times the nurse may face ethical dilemmas. The ANA continues to create policies and reports that address issues in ethics and human rights at the national and state level as well as internationally. Nurses want to help people, ease their suffering, and restore them to health. Print . Read Text Preview. Ethical issues in nursing can be tough, but they’re not going anywhere. Healthcare professionals should never disclose sensitive information on a patient’s health or history, and patient confidentiality says they cannot talk about your medical issues with anyone who is not involved. Title: Ethical and Legal Issues in Nursing Practice. Ethical Issues These occur when the medical surgical nurse is put in a position where she has to ignore the principles surrounding provision of ethical care. You may feel the need to report them out of necessity to keep patients safe, but when staffing is already low, many people stay silent. Once groups were formulated, and the scenario was decided, the group could discuss and draw focus areas both as a group and individually. The most common legal and ethical challenges facing the nursing profession include: The appropriate use of social media in relationship to their workplace’ Balancing the need to provide care for patients with pressure to be more efficient in the use of time … However, the way it addresses ethical dilemmas can vary in different situations. Since then, it has undergone several revisions to offset advances and changes in research, technology, law and overall challenges in nursing. Nurses today face many ethical dilemmas in the delivery of patient care. This article will examine some of the ethical and legal issues correctional nurses must address in their practice. For nurse managers, ethical decision-making stems from the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics, which was developed as a guideline for nursing responsibilities “in a manner consistent with quality in nursing care and the ethical obligations of the profession.” Nurse managers help solve ethical issues in nursing through using their leadership qualities to implement the Code of Ethics in their daily lives. Nurses and nurse managers devote their careers to helping patients receive the care they need, so it can often be difficult to establish professional boundaries. The discussion will also consider the legal, ethical and professional issues surrounding covert medication. Nurses can learn how to deal with ethical dilemmas in the workplace through gaining experience and interacting with patients over time. If you need help with an ethical dilemma, the Hastings Center and the ANA have several helpful resources for nursing. An article in the Journal of Advanced Nursing surveyed nurses on the ethical issues they face in their daily work. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. “The code is particularly useful in today’s healthcare environment because it reiterates the fundamental values and commitments of the nurse, identifies the boundaries of duty and loyalty and describes the duties of the nurse that extend beyond individual patient encounters,” ANA said in a statement. The coursework not only covers the fundamentals of ethical nursing but delves deep into controversial case studies, giving students the chance to examine alternative viewpoints and develop reasoning skills. Daily, nurse managers face a barrage of decisions and must maintain ethical fortitude to ensure the health, safety and well-being of their patients and staff. According to Felicia “Liz” Stokes, JD, RN, senior policy advisor at the ANA’s … This promise binds nurses together in their mission, no matter what challenges the modern healthcare system throws their way now or in the future. U.S. News & World Report ranked Duquesne University’s online MSN program among the Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs in 2017. By having open dialogues about ethical issues, nurses can learn from the mistakes others have made and learn how to approach ethical issues and challenges. Sometimes patients don’t have the availability or means to carry out the task and search for help. Pharmacy Technicians $30,920/year /> 2012-2016 +8.1% . Exacerbating the problem is the large number of inexperienced nurses entering the field, many who have never faced ethical issues in nursing. For example, it always aligns nurses with providing respectful and humane care by: This ethical code is extremely important in today’s healthcare system. Ethical issues are wide-ranging, from organ donation, genetic engineering, assisted suicide, withholding treatment in end-of-life care, or simple procedures requiring consent. And in some scenarios, there is no right or wrong answer. Nurses should have the best interest of patients in mind, understanding that they need to protect their privacy and medical data. According to a nurse, the biggest ethical, legal and the professional issue here is autonomy of the patient. This noble field may face hard choices at unexpected times in all departments and facilities. Get a verified writer to help you with Ethical and Legal Issues in Nursing. It is unavoidable, but the ethical dilemmas nurses face can change with time. Nurses/midwives demonstrate professional conduct and practice in accordance with the standards of nursing practice determined by the regulatory board and accept that the primary duty is to ensure safe, and ethical nursing care to the client” (Singapore Nursing Board (2011), Standard 2). In the mental health sector, medication non-adherence remains a serious health-care problem with far-reaching ramifications for patients, their relatives and health-care professionals. As a trainee Assistant Practitioner, I ensure that I abide by ethical and legal principles in all aspects of my role. Tweet . How much the nurse conveys in this scenario is also an ethical issue, as some nurses may not be ready to partake in this discussion. Nursing is a field where you are forced to make tough decisions at a moment’s notice. Along the lines of telling the truth, nurses face ethical dilemmas in disclosing medical conditions. Do you protect the staff member from losing their job or a patient from malpractice? Before a medical procedure takes place, it is the nurse’s responsibility to obtain informed consent. Through Duquesne University’s Master of Science in Nursing program, students explore the foundations of ethical management and leadership from professors with real-world experience. Comments (0) Add to wishlist Delete from wishlist. EMTs and Paramedics $32,670/year /> 2012-2016 +2.8% . Ngozi Oguejiofo. Nurses with more training, education, development and experience than physicians are supposed to follow the orders of physicians who may be misinformed or inexperienced. Nurses undergo many years of education and clinical training before they can become certified nurses, and yet, dealing with real ethical issues in nursing can be far more complex than solving hypothetical issues in textbooks. Answer: C. Biocultural needs. There are also issues with workplace bullying in nursing. The Duquesne University School of Nursing’s MSN program integrates ethical problem-solving and decision-making to help MSN graduates explore and address ethical issues. This is one of the main reasons that careers in nursing fluctuate and new job opportunities open consistently. To help curb this ethical dilemma, nurse managers can work hard to educate their nurses regarding the Code of Ethics as well as educate them regarding the Code of Ethics for their specific medical facility. Legal and ethical issues are prevalent in the health care industry, and in particular for the nursing practice, where nurses have daily individual contact with patients. Harris et al. These duties are generally considered to be to respect a patient’s confidentiality and autonomy and to recognize the duty of care that is owed to all patients. Nurse managers, in particular, are susceptible to ethical issues in nursing and moral distress because of their leadership and mentoring roles. Updated December 27, 2018. One ethical dilemma that can occur in healthcare facilities is when nurses themselves are not properly equipped to complete their duties. Nurses are seeking to develop further their knowledge of ethics and are increasing their ability to recognise ethical issues in practice. This assignment will discover ethical and legal implication of the nurse who disguises the information of the lethal ill patient at the request of his family. Some are rooted in time and will never change, while others are brought about by new changes in technology. Many nurses do not have formal education in legal and ethical issues, and as such as often unqualified to address these questions when they arise in the medical environment.xxx… In addition, with such issues as euthanasia and cloning, in the news almost every day the ethical pressures on the nursing and medical profession grows stronger. Legal & Ethical Issues in Nursing Michelle R. Stelly Term I: Writing Project 2010 Mrs. VanIwaarden 10/11/2010 Nurses are subject to a plethora of legal, ethical, and professional duties which can be very challenging. Other times, families and patients feel more comfortable asking nurses what the doctor meant because they can speak to them in plain language. Sometimes more than one ethical issue brings up a conflict of interest where you need to decide whether to back up your co-workers (doctors and other nurses on your team) or your patient. REFERANCE. ANA adopted its first Code of Ethics in 1950. Many nurses struggle with the stressful work life. Your email address will not be published. Before stepping into a role as a nurse manager, registered nurses (RNs) should understand the role ethical decision-making plays in the day-to-day work. The healthcare industry is known for its stressful work environment, where professionals work extremely long shifts that sometimes span weeks at a time before they get a day off. Explain nursing regulatory mechanism and medico legal case. 60). Legal and Ethical Issues for Health Professionals - Essay Example. Nurse managers can cultivate educational environments, in which they regularly discuss ethical issues with the nurses in their units. Broader ethical issues. However, nurses support each other through these ethical obligations. Problems come up with a patient is incapacitated or is not able to make the decisions that need to be made. They actively work toward resolving ethical issues in nursing that they find in their workplace. This essay is to examine the case study scenario of Mrs. Davis a resident at the Sunnyside day respite care center. Home • Get Ahead • Professional Ethics; Nurses adhere to certain ethical principles when caring for patients. Bioethics bring concerns of the enormous implications we could be causing whereas issues with genetic testing surround the availability of benefits to those with money. It’s the nurse’s job to make sure each patient understands this and maintains the right of the patient to make this decision. Legal And Ethical Issues In Elderly Care Essay. I feel that it is something that is incorporated into my job often without me even realising. Nursing; Legal and Ethical Issues for Health Professionals; Free. Nurses need to respect patient autonomy, even when questioned by law enforcement officials. The result could be declines in the quality of patient care; problematic clinical relationships; and moral distress, which is defined as knowing the right thing to do but not being allowed or able to do it. Discuss in detail about patient right, consumer protection act and rights of special group. Ethical and legal dilemmas arise when the health care provider and the patient, or the patient’s family, have differing opinions on appropriate care. The career is full of tough decisions and caring for other people. A health care professional may be torn between the ethics of beneficence (doing good) and autonomy (respecting patient’s wishes). Your email address will not be published. Nurse managers can intervene in situations where ethical and professional boundaries are crossed by either patients or nurses. Ethical and Legal Issues in Nursing Essay. Email . If death is harder for you, Five Wishes offers a guide to aid in these discussions. Every patient has… Examples of Nursing Ethical Dilemmas. Life and death decisions are tough on everyone, whether you’re the patient, a loved one, or a healthcare provider. “The Code,” as it is called in the nursing field, is a tool nurses use to make these tough decisions – both now and in the future. Issues are not always easy. If resolution cannot be reached, a judge may need to rule on the matter. Sometimes families or doctors prefer not to tell a patient about their medical diagnosis, and some people don’t want to know the harsh reality of their mortality. Nursing ethics revolves around the concept that nursing is collaborative, hence patients have an inherent right to bodily autonomy wherever possible, and this includes a human rights component and the need to allow informed consent, or the withholding of this consent. Since nurses spend all their time in their work setting, they can form personal relationships with the people near them. Nurses can learn how to deal with ethical dilemmas in the workplace through gaining experience and interacting with patients over time. Family Nurse Practitioners and Professional Liability Insurance, American Nurses Association, View the Code of Ethics for Nurses, Houston Chronicle, “Legal & Ethical Issues That Health Care Professionals Face”, Lippincott Solutions, Best Practices for Ethical Nursing Leadership, Medical Records Info, Top 10 Most Prevalent Ethical Issues in Nursing, National Center for Biotechnology Information, “Ethical Problems in Nursing Management —A Cross-Sectional Survey About Solving Problems”, NurseChoice, “4 Common Nursing Ethics Dilemmas”, View all blog posts under Articles | View all blog posts under Master of Science in Nursing, This Resource Guide will lead off by providing statistical data concerning water consumption, breaki Read More about 5 Benefits of Drinking a Gallon of Water a Day, Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) work with individuals, families and communiti Read More about Working as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Business acumen – the ability to make sound decisions by examining a variety of factors and determ Read More about Business Acumen for Nurse Leaders, Ethical Issues in Nursing: Explanations & Solutions, about 5 Benefits of Drinking a Gallon of Water a Day, about Working as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Programs, Online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Programs, Online Post-Master’s Nursing Certificates, Duquesne University’s Master of Science in Nursing, 5 Benefits of Drinking a Gallon of Water a Day, Working as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. 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