Patient’s Choice
One of the most important parts of health care is that the patient has the right to make decisions that affect the care they receive or even the care they choose not to receive. As a nurse, you must step back and examine your own beliefs to better understand the choices of others. Sometimes ethical dilemmas can arise and a nurse can be caught between upholding professional duties and not imposing on a patient’s rights. Once the nurse understands why a patient made a certain decision, they can begin to implement the best plan of care which might include just providing supportive care thus protecting the patient’s rights.
Refusal of Blood Transfusion
This case study involves a pregnant Hispanic woman who was involved in a car crash. Once she was in the emergency department and was assessed. Her vital signs were as follows: her heart rate was 90 beats per minute, respiratory rate was 28 breath per minute, and blood pressure was 130/80. She stated she hit her head on the windshield and was experiencing weakness, lightheadedness, shoulder …show more content…
Autonomy being “that individuals have the right to determine their own actions and the freedom to make their own decisions” (Black, 2014). Despite being told that she needed a blood transfusion, the patient refused. The medical team then practiced autonomy by respecting her choice even though they did not think it was the correct choice. The medical team also practiced veracity which is just being completely honest with the patient. The patient was given accurate information and no one tried to deceive her so she would accept the blood transfusion. Veracity is the basis for autonomy. The patient’s choices were based on her religious beliefs that her spirit was more important than her physical body. As a nurse, you have a duty to provide care for the patient, but sometimes the patient’s choices might not be in their own best
One of the most important parts of health care is that the patient has the right to make decisions that affect the care they receive or even the care they choose not to receive. As a nurse, you must step back and examine your own beliefs to better understand the choices of others. Sometimes ethical dilemmas can arise and a nurse can be caught between upholding professional duties and not imposing on a patient’s rights. Once the nurse understands why a patient made a certain decision, they can begin to implement the best plan of care which might include just providing supportive care thus protecting the patient’s rights.
Refusal of Blood Transfusion
This case study involves a pregnant Hispanic woman who was involved in a car crash. Once she was in the emergency department and was assessed. Her vital signs were as follows: her heart rate was 90 beats per minute, respiratory rate was 28 breath per minute, and blood pressure was 130/80. She stated she hit her head on the windshield and was experiencing weakness, lightheadedness, shoulder …show more content…
Autonomy being “that individuals have the right to determine their own actions and the freedom to make their own decisions” (Black, 2014). Despite being told that she needed a blood transfusion, the patient refused. The medical team then practiced autonomy by respecting her choice even though they did not think it was the correct choice. The medical team also practiced veracity which is just being completely honest with the patient. The patient was given accurate information and no one tried to deceive her so she would accept the blood transfusion. Veracity is the basis for autonomy. The patient’s choices were based on her religious beliefs that her spirit was more important than her physical body. As a nurse, you have a duty to provide care for the patient, but sometimes the patient’s choices might not be in their own best