The Importance Of Relational Ethics In Nursing

Relational ethics is a theoretical framework that allows nursing professionals to understand the patients’ own story and journey (Abma, 2005, p. 338). Relational ethics derives from relational narrative, a process where “the words the nurse and patient compose together, the words of their engagement yields ethical knowledge that is co-authored, contingent and contextual” (Abma, 2005, p. 339). The application of attentive listening and responsiveness allows the combination of both the registered nurse’s and the patient’s knowledge in coming to an understanding within the communication process. Consequently, health care decisions that benefit the patient mutually correspond with the nurse’s knowledge and belief about what is advantageous for …show more content…
The advantages of progress notes documentation enforces the continuity of care across all interdisciplinary teams, and addresses the patient’s medical complications to ensure that patient well-being is achieved towards discharge. Whereas, communication and interaction between nurse and patient explores the patient’s perspectives about their own battle with their illness; the nurse acknowledges the patient’s stories and understanding how self actions and beliefs may impede person-centered care. According to Abma (2008), “in a phenomenological approach to ethics it is considered to be important that caregivers assist patients and families to make sense of their situation” (p. 344). The patient did not receive guidance and support in order to understand how their illness will affect them and the outcomes of cystectomy and ileal conduit. Lack of relational narrative was evident because the patient describes the inability to cope effectively and manage lifestyle changes as healthcare disciplines initiates discharge planning without addressing patient’s learning needs. Nurses are constantly monitoring and with patients the most; thus, it is important that nurses are compassionate, attentively listen to patient’s concerns, and acknowledge their worries in order advance forward with their disease. Therefore, relational practice “attributes can be gained through reflection, the process of internally examining and exploring issues of concern, triggered by experience, which creates and clarifies meaning in terms of self, and which results in a changed conceptual perspective” (Gunaratnam, Yasmin, Oliviere, & David, 2009, p. 3). The patient telling the story will be able to reflect and understand in a deeper level with the guidance of nursing relational practice skills and nursing perspectives. In communicating with the patient, the patient was