Ethical Decision Making Model: A Case Study

An ethical situation that I was part of was when I was working as a CNA. It was a normal busy afternoon; I was assisting with feeding, visiting with residents, bringing residents to the restroom; when one resident came up to me and asked if he could have his Tylenol because he had pain; I told the resident that I would inform his nurse. When I notified his nurse of the resident’s request, the nurse responded by complaining about this individual. The nurse claimed this resident always wanted medication; leading her to believe he was drug seeking. She also claimed this resident always asked pointless questions that are a waste of her time. I was in complete, utter shock the way the nurse responded to me notifying her of the resident’s request. I kindly suggested that it’s our duty as health care professionals to answer questions and educate our patients. The …show more content…
(4 pts.) The ethical decision making model of Fry and Johnstone Value Centered Model is extremely applicable to my story. There are five steps to this model, which are 1) Identify the conflicting values of the various players, 2) Identify the story behind the value conflict, 3) Identify the significance of the various values, 4) Identify the significance of the conflict itself, and 5) Make a decision. In regards to my story, I am able to identify the conflicting values all the stakeholders/developing a story behind the conflict of values. The mean nurse saw the patient as a “drug seeking”, as evidence by, the nurse claiming that the patient “always asks for medications”. Therefore, the resident’s values of reducing pain conflicted with the mean nurse’s values. The friendly nurse and I’s main value was the resident’s pain should be managed, regardless, if the patient may or may not be drug seeking. As health care professionals, we can’t judge or deny someone of pain medication because of something we assume may or may not be true. The