...Applying Ethical Framework in Practice Adele Wolf, RN Grand Canyon University Ethical Decision Making in Health Care NRS 437V Charlene Cowley, MS, RN, CPNP February 26, 2011 Applying Ethical Framework in Practice Confidentiality is the right of an individual patient to have personal, identifiable medical information kept private; such information should be available only to the physician of record and other health care and insurance personnel as necessary. The only time information should be disclosed is with informed consent, with concern for the safety of other specific persons, or in concern for public welfare (K. Edwards, 2008). This paper will discuss the choices made by one nurse who cared for teenage girls in an episode of ER in 2000. Did she make the correct choices? Is it ever the right thing to do when confidentiality is broken? We will explore this case with the choices that can and should be made in this situation. In this episode of ER, the nurse is Carol Hathaway, she promises two young patients who are reluctant to enter into care that no matter what they tell her, she will not divulge any information to their parents or to anyone else. Test result for Andrea, one of the 14 year olds, is positive for human papillomavirus-(HPV) an extremely common sexually transmitted disease (STD). There are over 85 types of HPV infection and 95% of all cervical cancers are linked to HPV infection, which makes HPV the first sexually transmitted cancer. When...
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...Running head: ETHICAL FRAMEWORKS Ethical Frameworks Anna Marie Santana Grand Canyon University Ethical Decision Making in Helath Care NRS-437V Marianne Murray May 19, 2011 Ethical Frameworks Introduction Ethical decisions in healthcare are difficult. This is why it is essential for nurses to understand how to approach these problems and when to ask for help. Privacy and confidentiality are ethical issues where there may be confusion regarding the best course of action to take. Nurses need to know the laws and patient obligations regarding these issues. In Health care we have a law called HIPAA, (HIPAA.ORG, 2008) that ensures patient privacy. It is crucial for nurses to understand the regulations relevant to confidentiality in order to practice within the guidelines of the law. In the article "Bioethics on NBC's ER: Betraying Trust or Providing Good Care? When is it ok to Break Confidentiality?" (Nathanson, 2000), the author addresses an ethical issue that incites ethical conflict for a nurse. In order to coerce two young girls reluctant to seek medical help, Nurse Hathaway made a promise that no matter what she learns about them during the exam she will not divulge this information to the parents or anyone else. Finding out that her patient 14 year old patient not only had HPV, but also cervical cancer from participating in sex parties with multiple partners, Nurse Hathaway is faced with an ethical decision. Nurse Hathaway must decide to honor her patient’s confidentiality...
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...Ethical Frameworks in Practice Ally Cherian Grand Canyon University. NRS 437V Ethical Frameworks in Practice Confidentiality is an ethical principle that demands nondisclosure of private or secret information with which one is entrusted (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2008, p. 68). Maintaining confidentiality in patient’s information is crucial to patient nurse relationship. Breach of confidentiality can have serious consequences, especially for patient nurse relationship; however failure to disclose certain information can have serious impact on the patient, family and the community. It is the nurse’s responsibility to be aware of the basic principles of confidentiality and ethical framework in their daily practice. It is unethical, illegal and disrespectful to breach the patient confidentiality and can have serious implications, which includes: the client may be reluctant to provide full information about their health, failure to trust the health care providers or even hesitate to seek and avoid medical care. But in certain situations it is difficult for health care workers to honor the principles of confidentiality. When a physician or nurse has confidential information that can harm other people or community, maintaining patient confidentiality is difficult and an ethical dilemma arise. In such situations breach of confidentiality is crucial. According to the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses (2001) states that the duties of confidentiality are not absolute and may...
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...Running head: ANALYSIS OF AN ETHICAL DILEMMA Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma Felicia Aigbe, Grand Canyon University NRS 437V March 01, 2012 Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma The neighbor/friend I interview is Rosa Manzanares, who work in a non-profit organization as a social security for elderly whom I interview in person to share her philosophy and worldview in relation to Voluntary/Assisted suicide. You must have heard of the word “Voluntary or Assisted suicide” what is your worldview? In my opinion, she said life is a gift from God, and she has no right to do what pleases to her. She believes a person will die when God says it is time and there is no going back. As a Christian, is against her moral and religious background to take her own life or to tell someone to Assist her. No one, no matter how hopeless the situation is even as a choice for some people but for me nobody has the right to kill or assist someone to die. The reason for euthanasia is to relieve the individual from pain and suffering. What do you think about that? For me I do not think doctors should participate in assisted suicide because is against their Hippocratic Oaths, “I will not give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect or in forswearing the giving of poison when asked for it”. The American College of Physicians and American Society of Internal Medicine do not support or encourage physician to assist suicide (ACP-ASIM,...
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...Running head: MY PROFESSIONAL MORAL COMPASS My Professional Moral Compass Pamela Chesnut Grand Canyon University Ethical Decision Making in Health Care NRS 437V July 26, 2012 My Professional Moral Compass A professional moral compass is something everyone has and lives by. It helps assist in making decisions and is based on morals or virtues. My personal moral compass is directed by various inspirations, passions, and values that I try to live by. Compassion, loyalty, integrity, honor, faithfulness, hard work, service unto others, self-discipline, accountability, and a good sense of humor contribute to my worldview and philosophy of nursing. I try to give the same quality of care to all patients and their family members, which I would want to be given as if it were I or my loved one. A nurse uses their professional moral compass to make the best decisions for their patient. Nursing is all about the patients and without values, morals, and ethics nurses lose the focus on the patients. Values are the moral principles and beliefs or accepted standards of a person or social group (“Value“, n.d.). Values are important because they can help influence decisions, actions, even nurse’s ethical decision making. Morals in nursing are the principles of behavior in accordance with standards of right and wrong. Ethics is about what kind of persons we are becoming – our character and how our choices shape us (“Ethics”, n.d.). The ethics of nursing is the nurse's...
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...Ethical Frameworks in Practice Grand Canyon University NRS 437v Date: July 12, 2014 According to American Nursing Association code of ethics, provision 3,”confidentiality is associated with the right to privacy; the nurse has a duty to maintain confidentiality of all patient information. The patient's well being could be jeopardized and the fundamental trust between patient and nurse destroyed by unnecessary access to data or by the inappropriate disclosure of identifiable patient information. The rights, well being, and safety of the individual patient should be the primary factors in arriving at any professional judgment concerning the disposition of confidential information received from or about the patient, whether oral, written or electronic. The standard of nursing practice and the nurse's responsibility to provide quality care require that relevant data be shared with those members of the health care team who have a need to know. Only information pertinent to a patient's treatment and welfare is disclosed, and only to those directly involved with the patient's care. Duties of confidentiality, however, are not absolute and may need to be modified in order to protect the patient, other innocent parties, and in circumstances of mandatory disclosure for public health reasons” (www.nursingworld.org). This paper will discuss an ethical dilemma which a nurse encountered and tested her ethical principles regarding break of confidentiality. If the patients' private...
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...Personal Nursing Ethics Laurie Stein Grand Canyon University: NRS-437V Ethical Decision Making In Healthcare October 12, 2012 Personal Nursing Ethics Growing up in a rural Midwest farming area in a family of 11 people I learned at an early age how important family and people in the surrounding community were to me. My family and the majority of my small community were devout Catholics. Our social life revolved around church, family and friends. My parents taught myself and my siblings the value of friendship, being kind to your neighbors and respect for others and their property. Sometimes I thought they were almost too strict but did realize later that this discipline provided the basis for what I am today. As I prepared to venture out into the world after graduation I knew I was a “people person” and pursued a degree in medical assisting. As a medical assistant I felt that I was an integral part of the patients’ lives. Providing medical care was important but many of these patients knew they could talk and confide in me about other things whether it was a personal problem or family problem or maybe they just needed someone to listen. It was here that the values that I was taught by my parents became so important. Sometimes I was faced with some ethic decisions in regards to my religion as a medical assistant when having to assist with vasectomies. The rhythm method is the only birth control practice accepted by the Catholic Church. To assist with this procedure...
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...Running head: ETHICAL FRAMEWORKS IN PRACTICE Ethical Frameworks in Practice Debra Benton Grand Canyon University Ethical Decision Making in Health Care NRS-437V October 14, 2012 Ethical Frameworks in Practice Patients should feel at ease when giving personal information to their physician or nurse (Burkle & Cascino, 2011). Patients may resist offering pertinent information if they feel their confidence may be betrayed. Confidentiality can only be broken when it involves a gunshot wound, injuries resulting from child abuse or an infectious disease, which would put the community at risk. Such is the case presented in Nathanson’s article titled: “Betraying trust or providing good care? When is it okay to break confidentiality?” (2000). The article addresses an ethical dilemma presented in an episode of NBC’s ER. Nurse Carol Hathaway promises two reluctant teenage patients who are seeking care, that anything they tell her will remain confidential, even from their parents and anyone else. Agreeable to this, the girls divulge they have been sexually active with multiple partners and suspect they have been exposed to a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Tests were performed on the teenager for STD’s and receive Pap tests to detect any cervical abnormalities. The test results confirm, Andrea, is positive for the human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer. Promising Andrea confidentiality, Nurse Hathaway knows she must break the promise or potentially endanger herself...
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...Ethical Frameworks in Practice Judith Navarrete Grand Canyon University NRS-437V Ethical Decision Barbara Trabelsi February 21, 2011 Ethical Frameworks in Practice For any relationship, whether it may be, personal or business, trust is the ultimate component of its success. In a nurse and patient relationship, trust is extremely crucial. An accurate assessment and history is obtained only if the patient is confident about the nurse’s integrity. This is absolutely essential in order for the patient to receive the appropriate medical attention and treatment. At the same time, the patient is entitled to a private and confidential encounter with the health care provider. Privacy refers to the right of the patient to control any personal information that is disclosed to others. The ethical principle of confidentiality demands nondisclosure of private information about another person with which one is entrusted (Burkhardt, M. A., & Nathaniel, A. K., 2008). It is up to each nurse, as a patient advocate, to protect the rights of a patient’s privacy. Any other medical personnel are on a “need to know” basis. This is necessary to avoid any breach of trust or confidentiality. Sometimes “Duties of confidentiality, may need to be modified in order to protect the patient, other innocent parties and in circumstances of mandatory disclosure for public health reasons” (American Nurses Association, 2001). Occasionally, ethical dilemmas can occur when particular information is necessary...
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...Running head: PERSONAL ETHICS Personal Ethics: Professional Moral Compass Grand Canyon University NRS 437V January 8, 2012 Professional Moral Compass Ethics, a branch of philosophy refers to the values for human conduct, considering the rightness and wrongness of actions and motives. As nursing profession is an integral part of the health care environment, the nursing ethics provides the insight to the values and ethical principles governing nursing practice, conduct, and relationships. The Code of Ethics for Nurses, adopted by the American Nurses' Association (ANA) is intended to provide definite standards of practice and conduct that are essential to the ethical discharge of the nurse's responsibility (American Nurses Association, 2012). A nurse cultivates personal ethics through personal, cultural and spiritual values which becomes a moral compass for their professional ethics. Personal ethics in combination with the code of ethics often assist the nurses in personal and social decision making during ethical dilemma. This ability prompts them to better respond to needs of the suffering patient and their own well-being. This paper will discuss the personal, cultural, and spiritual values contributing to nurses’ individual worldview and philosophy of nursing and the moral and ethical dilemma being faced in this profession. Values Contributing to Individual’s Worldview and Philosophy of Nursing Born in a Christian middle class South Indian family, the strict...
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...Running head: ETHICAL FRAMEWORKS Applying Ethical Frameworks in Practice NRS 437V September 01, 2012 Appling Ethical Frameworks in Practice A conclusive ethical foundation in the healthcare arena is confidentiality. It is referred to the standard of maintaining secure and private from others health care information revealed during a professional consultation. This is an essential legal right of every client and an ethical duty of the medical community (Bourke, 2008). Maintaining confidentiality between the client and healthcare professional translates to a trustworthy relationship, especially with adolescents. This paper will discuss implications to breach confidentiality, ethical principles, alternatives and ethical committee applications to an ethical dilemma. Implications of Breach of Confidentiality To promote trust between the patient and healthcare provider is a good reason to appreciate confidentiality in health management. To release information to a third party without consent of the patient is considered a breach of confidentiality and illegal. For example, adolescents are encouraged to participate in health care prevention. Many are depressed and even sexually active, but the challenge to provide access and receive adequate care is necessary. Confidentiality is the primary reason this juvenile group deter from health care prevention and management (English & Ford, 2007). A breach of confidentiality in juvenile health care has...
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...Running Head: INDIVIDUAL: PERSONAL ETHICS Personal Ethics of Nursing Crystal Kingcade Grand Canyon University Ethical Decision Making in Health Care NRS 437V April 30, 2010 Personal Ethics of Nursing Ethics in nursing is a set of principles relating to what is morally right or wrong. It is used in the health care field as a standard of conduct or code for how healthcare workers should behave. As nurses it allows us to analyze information and make the best decisions based on what we believe is right and good conduct. Everyday nurses are faced with making ethical decisions when providing quality care to their patients. However, as nurses we must be able to identify our personal values and morals to be able to make the best decision in regards to the ethical dilemmas. Values, Morals and Ethics play a vital role in influencing the nurse-patient relationship because each one determines the behavior on how the nurse and patient respond to the relationship and issue. As nurses we use our beliefs such as values, morals and ethics to guide us on how we should act and to determine the choices we must make. Personal ethics is very vital in the art of nursing. As nurses it is important to know and be able to identify the values of nursing for the safety of the patient and nursing practice. The purpose of this paper is to identify how an individual’s worldview and philosophy of nursing affect their values, morals and ethics...
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...Ethical decision making in healthcare NRS-437V Jyoti Battar Grand Canyon University February 2nd, 2014 Breaking confidentiality is never ethical and is also losing faith between the patient-nurse relationships or amongst healthcare providers. The minute a patient walks into a health care setting they feel a trusting bond with the providers and expect reciprocation. The U.S. department of health and human services has the office of civil rights which imposes the “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act” (HIPAA) which protects patient information. Breaches of confidentiality are taken seriously by the office of civil rights and any breach of unsecured health information will be analyzed, and the person responsible will be prosecuted. All healthcare providers are expected to follow basic ethical principles during their practice and they are: “Respect for autonomy, Veracity, Beneficence, Non-maleficence, Fidelity, and Justice” (Maurer & Smith, 2013). These ethical principles are implemented and mandated through standards of practice and federal law in all healthcare and professional organizations. According to the American Nurses Association’s (ANA) standard of codes, the most important ethical principle is “respect for the inherent dignity and worth… of human existence and the individuality of all persons” (Maurer & Smith, pg. 12). When a patient arrives to the hospital the first task the patient goes through is to sign an informed consent form, also known...
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...Running head: ANALYSIS OF AN ETHICAL DILEMMA Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma NRS 437V December 11, 2011 Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma Euthanasia, sometimes referred to as mercy killing, is an act by a third party that causes a patient’s death. Such acts include administering a lethal dose of medication by way of injection or mask, usually to a seriously ill patient. This analysis will discuss the ethics of euthanasia as it relates to nursing, laws, society, and the stakeholders involved in the scenario. The American Nurses Association (ANA) believes that the nurse should not participate in Active euthanasia because such an act is in direct violation of the Code for Nurses with Interpretive Statements, the ethical traditions and goals of the profession, and its covenant with society. (Task Force on the Nurse's Role in End-of-Life Decisions, 2011) While patient advocates should be vigilant for providing diligent care, they should perform their tasks with respect, support and due commitment towards their care. In healthcare practice, in order to relieve pain and suffering, there is an obligation to promote dignity and autonomy of patients. Euthanasia is a complex issue in which nurses are uncomfortable determining the life and death of a patient. Nurses have to practice ethical principles of beneficence, which maximize benefit and reduce potential risk and harm to the patient. Non-malfeasance is another ethical issue in which a nurse should do no harm. A competent...
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...Professional Moral Compass William Douglas DeRosa Grand Canyon University NRS – 437V February 15, 2014 When entering the field of healthcare, one must accept the fact that ethical situations and dilemmas often arise and have distinct impact on the care provided. As the frontline care givers, the nursing staff must face ethical situations in their practice on a daily basis. The American Nurses Association (ANA) developed a code of ethics for nurses as a framework to provide quality nursing care while upholding the ethical standards of the nursing profession (American Nurses Association, 2014). This paper will discuss the author’s professional moral compass with regards to personal, cultural and spiritual values. This author, like many nurses, went into the nursing field with the purpose of contributing to society and giving back to the community. A personal desire to truly make a difference in someone’s life was a driving force in pursuing a career in nursing. This nursing aspiration had been cultivated through a lifetime of experiences, beginning with cultural values at a young age. Having been born and raised in a large, poor, Italian family, the author learned firsthand the importance of caring for and looking after those in need. A Catholic upbringing served as the foundation of the author’s spiritual values, particularly living by the well-known verse which reads, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so...
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