analyzing ethical dilemmas in nursing

analyzing ethical dilemmas in nursing
Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing The nursing profession involves caring for individuals and families. The practice is guided by ethical principles, values, and morals. These principles serve to create an enabling environment for healthcare professionals, patients, and family members to relate well and apply desired measures to achieve the best outcomes (Ilkafah et al., 2021). However, ethical dilemmas arise from the healthcare environment and occur when two or more ethical principles conflict or counteract one another. Therefore, nurses must be skilled and apply practical interpersonal relationship skills to achieve the best outcomes. Ethical
analyzing ethical dilemmas in nursing
dilemmas can arise when a patient refuses to take medication. The dilemma arises because, on one side, ethical principles in nursing demand that nurses allow patients to take active roles in the care team and assist patients in making effective decisions concerning their care (Munkeby et al., 2021). This principle is known as autonomy, and it gives patients more weight in making decisions concerning their care. Therefore, ethically practicing nurses must adhere to autonomy and allow patients to make effective decisions concerning their care. On the other hand, beneficence and non-maleficence require nurses to do or cause no harm and provide high-quality services. However, in some cases, a patient’s ability to make effective decisions may be compromised by one or more reasons. An ethical dilemma may occur when a patient refuses to take medication or undergo a particular therapeutic procedure. Reflecting on my experience, I once experienced a situation where an elderly woman under my care, was critically ill and presented with severe anemia. A blood transfusion was suggested but she and her whole family were Jehovah Witnesses , religion that is totally opposed to getting blood or any of its components. The patient was in PACU and under the effects of anesthesia, so we talked to her son, who was the person legally designated to make decision for her under those circumstances, and he aggressively reject the order of transfusion.What to do then? We continued with intensive administration of IV fluids until the patient was completely recovered from sedation and alert enough to explain her in details her current situation and our considerations about the treatment, including a blood transfusion. It was a releaving surprise for us,
analyzing ethical dilemmas in nursing
in a moment we were facing a serious dilemma, when she sitted up in her bed and said that she had beautiful grandkids that she wanted to see growing and running all around, and even when she was aware and had faith in her religion, those kids were above it. She was the one who informed her son, who got absolutely upset, but still the patient’s will prevailed and she got the blood. Although the patient has a right to choose which therapy they should use, or the designated person to do it when they are not in mentally conditions to do it, adhering to this could compromise their outcomes and indicate poor service quality, or at least we get that feeling of impotence for not to be able to do something for the patient that would be determinat for their outcomes. (Pietrzykowski