An ethical dilemma in nursing is a situation in which a nurse must decide between opposing values and knowing that, regardless of the choice she makes,. However, when it comes to nursing, the dilemma arises when the law or a patient-related medical problem constitutes one thing, while the patient demands something else. A typical scenario in which such an ethical dilemma would arise is if patient A, who is pregnant, has a history of congenital heart defects. Due to pregnancy, the risk of patient A worsening her condition is high.
In addition, there may be a significant risk that the baby will develop a heart condition, which will further complicate delivery. However, due to her religious beliefs, patient A hesitates to have an abortion. When asked about it, should the nurse advise the patient to continue with the necessary treatment to save their life or should they respect their personal choice? That is what is in favor of the right to decide against. It's common knowledge that we should respect people's religious practices.
However, as a nurse, where do you draw the line when religious beliefs interfere with what is medically necessary to ensure your health? One of the most common scenarios when empirical knowledge vs. Religious beliefs: The ethical dilemma arises when nurses treat patients who are Jehovah's Witnesses. Their religious beliefs do not allow these patients to accept a blood transfusion. Yet another case in which a nurse has to decide if she should continue with a necessary treatment that the patient opposes is explored in Autonomy vs.
An example of a common ethical dilemma faced by nurses is setting limits with patients. Nurses and nurse managers dedicate their careers to helping patients get the care they need, so it can often be difficult to set professional boundaries. Patients should not trust nurses beyond their professional capacity and should not develop romantic relationships with them or offer them gifts. Nurse managers can intervene in situations where patients or nurses cross ethical and professional boundaries.
Another example of an ethical dilemma in nursing is to tell the truth to a patient versus. Nurses who realize the lack of knowledge from their co-workers are faced with the ethical dilemma of whether they should take the problem to their nurse manager. As you may have seen in some of the solutions provided in the previous examples of the ethical dilemma of nursing, it is often best to put the Code of Nursing Ethics before what you consider to be the right choice, influenced by emotions and feelings. So, remember that ethical dilemmas are part of the job, and as long as you prioritize the well-being and comfort of your patients, you'll find a solution.
For this reason, it is essential that nurses and nursing students know the frameworks for solving ethical dilemmas that take into account ethical theories, ethical principles, personal values, social values and guidelines sanctioned by professionals, such as the ANA Code of Nursing Ethics. There are many frameworks for resolving an ethical dilemma, including the nursing process, the four-quadrant approach, the MORAL model, and the PLUS model of ethical decision-making centered on the organization. Provision 6 - Through an individual and collective effort, nurses must establish, maintain and improve the ethical environment of their work environment and the conditions of employment. When faced with an ethical dilemma in nursing, these professionals must decide between two or more courses of action, which inevitably breaks part of their code of ethics regardless of their choice.
Moral conflict can turn into moral distress when the nurse identifies the right ethical action, but feels limited by the opposing values of an organization or other people. To help resolve this ethical dilemma, nurse managers can work hard to educate their nurses about the Code of Ethics, as well as about the Code of Ethics of their specific medical facility. Through the Master of Science in Nursing program at Duquesne University, students explore the foundations of ethical management and leadership in the hands of professors with real-world experience. In addition, Altman suggested that nurses contact “the hospital's ethics committee,” the hospital's code of conduct, or a variety of educational resources.
The ethical dilemma of resource allocation in nursing refers to the scarcity of resources that would provide nurses with the necessary means to obey the rule of providing equal care to all. An article published in 2004 in the Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing reported: “Patients and their families want to know the truth about their illness, regardless of whether it's good or bad news, and health professionals have an ethical obligation to share the truth with them, allowing the patient to make informed decisions. In addition, ethical dilemmas can also cause a conflict between a nurse's values outside the Nurse's Code of Ethics. .
