Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary focus of nursing ethics?
What is the primary focus of nursing ethics?
What does the term 'ethical dilemmas' refer to?
What does the term 'ethical dilemmas' refer to?
Which of the following best describes the relationship between ethics and morality in nursing?
Which of the following best describes the relationship between ethics and morality in nursing?
Which aspect of ethical knowledge is essential for nurses when facing moral challenges?
Which aspect of ethical knowledge is essential for nurses when facing moral challenges?
Signup and view all the answers
What is meant by the term 'biomedical ethics'?
What is meant by the term 'biomedical ethics'?
Signup and view all the answers
What role do theories of ethics play in nursing?
What role do theories of ethics play in nursing?
Signup and view all the answers
How do nurses demonstrate integrity in their practice?
How do nurses demonstrate integrity in their practice?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one major challenge nurses face regarding ethical decision making?
What is one major challenge nurses face regarding ethical decision making?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one of the ethical responsibilities of nurses?
What is one of the ethical responsibilities of nurses?
Signup and view all the answers
Which group is specifically mentioned as vulnerable in society?
Which group is specifically mentioned as vulnerable in society?
Signup and view all the answers
Which step is part of the ethical decision-making process?
Which step is part of the ethical decision-making process?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the nursing profession have a responsibility to recognize?
What does the nursing profession have a responsibility to recognize?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a part of advocating for social justice in nursing?
Which of the following is NOT a part of advocating for social justice in nursing?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of thinking is required to work through ethical issues?
What type of thinking is required to work through ethical issues?
Signup and view all the answers
Which factor should be explored as part of ethical decision-making?
Which factor should be explored as part of ethical decision-making?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following describes a responsibility of nurses regarding colleague performance?
Which of the following describes a responsibility of nurses regarding colleague performance?
Signup and view all the answers
Which ethical responsibility emphasizes advocating for the least restrictive measures possible?
Which ethical responsibility emphasizes advocating for the least restrictive measures possible?
Signup and view all the answers
What should be respected when a capable person chooses to defer to family values in decision making?
What should be respected when a capable person chooses to defer to family values in decision making?
Signup and view all the answers
In maintaining dignity, which action is emphasized as ethically responsible?
In maintaining dignity, which action is emphasized as ethically responsible?
Signup and view all the answers
Which ethical responsibility involves ensuring confidentiality of personal health information?
Which ethical responsibility involves ensuring confidentiality of personal health information?
Signup and view all the answers
What is an important aspect of promoting justice in healthcare?
What is an important aspect of promoting justice in healthcare?
Signup and view all the answers
When providing information for informed decision making, which is NOT an ethical responsibility?
When providing information for informed decision making, which is NOT an ethical responsibility?
Signup and view all the answers
Which action reflects an ethical responsibility in intervening when others fail to respect a person's dignity?
Which action reflects an ethical responsibility in intervening when others fail to respect a person's dignity?
Signup and view all the answers
Which ethical responsibility includes advocating for a dignified and peaceful death?
Which ethical responsibility includes advocating for a dignified and peaceful death?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Ethical Considerations in Nursing
- This presentation covers ethical considerations in nursing practice.
- The agenda includes theory, principles, issues, decision-making, case analysis, and a group assignment due next week.
Ethics in Nursing Practice
- Nurses face complex ethical choices daily.
- Key questions for nurses include:
- How do nurses know if their actions are right?
- How do nurses identify ethical issues?
- How do nurses determine the best option for everyone concerned?
- How can nurses gain confidence in choosing a course of action?
- How can nurses demonstrate integrity and maintain trust with patients?
- How can nurses access support when facing ethical challenges?
Ethical Knowledge Assists Nurses
- Nurses benefit from understanding ethical theories, concepts, and principles.
- This knowledge helps in decision-making related to moral challenges.
- Ethical theory has evolved from historical to contemporary concepts.
- Important elements include the integration of professional and moral rights and obligations, and the value of caring and emotion alongside rationality.
Ethical Theory - Key Terms
- Morality refers to culturally-based beliefs about right and wrong.
- Ethics systematically explores what is morally right and wrong.
- Ethical theory studies the nature and justification of general ethical principles, applicable to various moral problems.
- Biomedical ethics focuses on ethical questions related to health care.
Ethical Theory - Key Terms Continued
- Nursing ethics addresses moral issues in nursing practice, including the nurse-patient relationship and moral character.
- Ethical dilemmas arise when the best course of action isn't clear, and strong moral reasons support competing positions.
- The least wrong choice needs to be chosen.
Moral Distress
- Nurses face a high risk of moral distress due to unaddressed or unmanageable ethical issues.
- This distress can arise when nurses cannot act upon what they believe is right.
- This causes psychological and emotional pain that may lead to anger and powerlessness when there's no support for dealing with issues and their consequences.
- Sources of moral distress in healthcare include inadequate communication, use of healthcare resources, staff training, and pain relief.
Group Activity
- In class, analyze potential sources of moral distress.
- Discuss the impact of these situations on nursing care and the profession.
- Brainstorm strategies to lessen moral distress.
Moral Distress Sources
- Inadequate communication about patient care between providers, families, and patients is a cause of stress.
- Inappropriate use of resources.
- Inadequate staffing.
- Insufficient pain relief.
- Electronic health records can distract from face-to-face care, but are valuable too.
- Pressure to keep up with changing protocols.
- High patient volumes and low resources can make it difficult to maintain proper procedures.
Emergence of Ethical Theory
- Nursing ethics incorporates emotion, caring, relationships, and experiences.
- Modern nursing ethical theories combine nursing concepts (like caring and compassion) with a view of nurses as moral agents influencing professional relationships.
Factors Influencing Morality
- Many things shape ethical thought, including:
- societal norms and beliefs
- personal characteristics like gender, age
- the situation's context, previous experiences
- potential outcomes of actions
- relationships involved
- professional and individual values
Values
- Values are ideals important to individuals, groups, and societies.
- Canadian society values freedom, health, fairness, honesty, and integrity.
- These values are reflected in Canadian laws, professional codes of ethics, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and healthcare systems.
Influence of Values on Ethical Decision Making
- Values significantly influence ethical decision-making, including personal beliefs, behaviors, and societal rules.
- Values can change over time, illustrated by shifts from prolonging life at all costs toward quality of life, and a shift toward ethical decision-making informed by respect for individual rights.
- Value conflicts arise when personal values conflict with actions of others or professionals' differing perspectives.
- Value clarification is a process of understanding your personal values and those of others, clarifying them, and articulating them to others.
Categories of Ethical Study
- Nonnormative ethics analyze morality without taking a position. (Descriptive Ethics and Metaethics)
- Normative ethics focuses on defining what is right or wrong. (Virtue Ethics, Teleological Theories, Deontological Theories, Principlism, and Narrative Ethics)
Normative Ethical Theories
- Frameworks guide decisions about right and wrong.
- They use principles and rules to define appropriate actions.
- Some theories are historical, some more contemporary.
- Embedded in the moral tradition of Indigenous communities.
Virtue Ethics
- The focus in virtue ethics is the character and virtues of the individual making the decision.
- Virtues are positive characteristics (e.g., courage, compassion, generosity).
- Those with strong moral virtues are more likely to make the right decisions and act correctly.
Teleological Theories
- Focuses on the outcomes and consequences (immediate and long-term).
- Judgments are based on a theory of value, such as utility (e.g., utilitarianism).
- Act utilitarianism considers the specific act, while rule utilitarianism looks at general patterns of behavior.
Modern/Contemporary Theories
- Ethical principles guide decision-making (Principlism).
- Social justice theories consider fairness and equity.
- Feminist perspectives are important in decision-making.
- The "ethic of care" focuses on empathy and personal relationships.
- Caring and relational ethics is a focus in nursing.
- Narrative ethics emphasizes sharing stories and experiences to better understand ethical dilemmas.
Principle-Based Ethics
- Beauchamp and Childress introduced principles of ethical conduct to healthcare in 1983.
- These principles are found in professional codes of ethics and provide a framework for decision-making.
Autonomy
- The principle of autonomy emphasizes the freedom of competent individuals to make decisions.
- This freedom is limited to actions that do not harm or interfere with the rights of others. This principle is foundational to informed consent.
- May create conflict with other ethical principles.
Fidelity
- The principle of fidelity emphasizes loyalty to promises and truthfulness in nursing relationships.
- Fidelity upholds commitment with actions such as adequate pain control, comfort and support, and person-centered care.
Nonmaleficence
- The principle of nonmaleficence emphasizes "first, do no harm."
- This principle guides individuals on acting to prevent or remove harm.
Beneficence
- The principle of beneficence focuses on acts that produce good for others.
- Health professionals should help those in need or further legitimate interests.
Justice
- Based on fairness, justice focuses on how individuals treat each other.
- Distributive justice ensures the equitable distribution of benefits and burdens.
- Compensatory justice compensates for harms caused by negligence or malpractice.
Social Justice
- Social justice emphasizes equity and opportunity in society.
- It promotes the well-being of all members, particularly vulnerable groups, through policy and action.
- Indigenous children have a first priority in healthcare access and services (Jordan's Principle).
- Policies and laws help to address social determinants of health and support for issues such as homelessness and disabilities.
An Ethic of Care
- Emphasizes feelings, emotion, empathy, and care.
- Prioritizes the context and complexities of relationships and needs of the person.
Caring and Relational Ethics in Nursing
- Focuses on care, connections, and trust in relationships.
- Aims at avoiding objectification of the patient.
- Preserves human dignity.
Uncovering the Story - A Narrative Approach to Ethics
- Ethical dilemmas can be better understood by sharing real stories.
- Ethical themes, values, and perspectives can be revealed.
- Discussion and questioning are essential to thoroughly understand moral dimensions.
Ethical Concerns
- Scenario about a patient handcuffed in the emergency department.
- Issues of patient privacy, physical safety, and best practices are significant.
Case Scenario Questions
- Should least restraint policies apply to the situation? Which particular ethical principles are related?
- How do the standards and conduct of the Canadian Nurses' Association (CNO) apply?
- Does provincial legislation need to be considered?
- Do restraints interfere with medical treatment?
- Who should create the care plan?
Escape Room
- Students work through an escape room related to ethics.
Break
- A break is scheduled.
Ethical Decision Making
- Making ethical decisions requires deliberate, critical thinking, and systemization.
- Nurses need to use frameworks to ensure fairness and consistency.
An Ethical Decision-Making Process
- A 7-step process is described for making ethical decisions
Critical Thinking Scenario
- Students analyze a scenario posted online, and address 3 questions about the situation.
Scenario 1 and 2 (examples of potential critical thinking scenarios)
- Detailed scenarios for critical thinking.
Critical Thinking Questions
- Questions to guide the students' analysis. (4 questions presented).
Clinical Ethics Committees
- Provide consultations, education, and policy development for complex ethical issues.
Case Analysis (next class activity)
- Students will analyze specific case studies.
Plan for Next week
- Review of professional rights and obligations.
- Due date for group assignment.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
This quiz explores key ethical considerations in nursing practice, focusing on theories, principles, and issues faced by nurses. Participants will reflect on decision-making, case analysis, and ways to maintain trust with patients. The content is designed to empower nurses in choosing the right course of action in complex ethical situations.
