Ethics Ethics can be described as the study of what is wrong and what is right and can stem from the moral beliefs of the individual (Marquis & Huston, 2015). Many nurses take the Florence Nightingale pledge at their pinning ceremonies or nursing school graduations. New nurses promise to uphold the ethical practice of giving quality care to patients with pure intentions. My personal morals have helped shape my ethical decision making. Nurses need to reflect on their inherent beliefs, their morals, and past experiences involving ethical questions. Our views may change as healthcare evolves, as we grow older, as we or our families become patients, and as policies change. It is important to reevaluate our principles and to see that our
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It was noted that nurses should frequently reflect upon their own moral belief systems and evaluate how they compare to those of their organization. To help with this, Woods (2014) suggests that managers and charge nurses mentor other nurses on the floor to help them identify their own moral and ethical dilemmas and brainstorm ways to help decrease any distress in these situations. Next, the paper gave a portrayal of the different frameworks of ethical constructs. I then described a personal ethical dilemma I faced as an oncology nurse. This ethical dilemma involved an elderly man whose family decided on enrolling him in hospice, but requested that we not tell him the truth. I used my guardian leadership style and the intuitionist ethical framework to evaluate the situation. I believed in the patient’s right to truth and my duty to keep him safe and at peace. The goal of the situation was that the patient and family were happy with the decision regarding his care and that he was able to be comfortable and die with dignity. After discussing the situation in more depth with the family, we all spoke very calmly with the patient during a period he seemed oriented. In the end, the patient was grateful for his family’s decision, the family felt content, and I felt that I was able to protect my patient and his family. It is important for nurses to regularly assess their level of moral distress and self-reflect on their own ethical and moral beliefs in order to be an effective and ethical decision maker. Ethical decision making is a necessary skill of an excellent
It was noted that nurses should frequently reflect upon their own moral belief systems and evaluate how they compare to those of their organization. To help with this, Woods (2014) suggests that managers and charge nurses mentor other nurses on the floor to help them identify their own moral and ethical dilemmas and brainstorm ways to help decrease any distress in these situations. Next, the paper gave a portrayal of the different frameworks of ethical constructs. I then described a personal ethical dilemma I faced as an oncology nurse. This ethical dilemma involved an elderly man whose family decided on enrolling him in hospice, but requested that we not tell him the truth. I used my guardian leadership style and the intuitionist ethical framework to evaluate the situation. I believed in the patient’s right to truth and my duty to keep him safe and at peace. The goal of the situation was that the patient and family were happy with the decision regarding his care and that he was able to be comfortable and die with dignity. After discussing the situation in more depth with the family, we all spoke very calmly with the patient during a period he seemed oriented. In the end, the patient was grateful for his family’s decision, the family felt content, and I felt that I was able to protect my patient and his family. It is important for nurses to regularly assess their level of moral distress and self-reflect on their own ethical and moral beliefs in order to be an effective and ethical decision maker. Ethical decision making is a necessary skill of an excellent