Ethical and Legal issues in Nursing
Ethical and Legal Issues in Nursing
NUR/391
February 3, 2014
Patricia Shaw
Ethical and Legal Issues in Nursing
Nurses today face many ethical dilemmas in the delivery of patient care. What can or should be done for the patient versus the wishes of the patient’s physician conflicting with the personal beliefs the nurse holds to be true. The client’s wishes may conflict with the institutional policies, physician professional opinion, the client’s family desires, or even the laws of the state. According to the nursing code of ethics, the nurse’s first allegiance is to the client (Blais & Hayes, 2011, pg. 60). The ethical ideals of each nurse must be weighed with the laws of the state along with providing the most ethical care for the patient. The advancements in medical technology make it possible to sustain a patient life where previously there was no hope of recovery. These advancements have put nurses in the forefront of decision making begging the question “just because we can, should we” to be answered. Nurses need to understand the legalities involved with these new technologies to practice safely and effectively. Scientific achievements have opened new ground for nursing exploration. In response to the need for nursing input into social and legal issues, nurses now find career opportunities as forensic nurses, legal nurse consultants, and nurse-attorneys (Blais & Hayes, 2011, pg. 75). This paper will explore the ethical and legal issues encountered by nurses in two case studies.
The American Nurses Association Code of Nursing Ethics could influence a final decision in each case study that was presented. The six caps study revealed family members to have conflict in their desires when it came time for a decision in going ahead with surgery (the father’s desire) and having a poor quality of life as the outcome (the adult children’s belief based on physicians prognosis). The adult children believe that their mother would not want to have the
NUR/391
February 3, 2014
Patricia Shaw
Ethical and Legal Issues in Nursing
Nurses today face many ethical dilemmas in the delivery of patient care. What can or should be done for the patient versus the wishes of the patient’s physician conflicting with the personal beliefs the nurse holds to be true. The client’s wishes may conflict with the institutional policies, physician professional opinion, the client’s family desires, or even the laws of the state. According to the nursing code of ethics, the nurse’s first allegiance is to the client (Blais & Hayes, 2011, pg. 60). The ethical ideals of each nurse must be weighed with the laws of the state along with providing the most ethical care for the patient. The advancements in medical technology make it possible to sustain a patient life where previously there was no hope of recovery. These advancements have put nurses in the forefront of decision making begging the question “just because we can, should we” to be answered. Nurses need to understand the legalities involved with these new technologies to practice safely and effectively. Scientific achievements have opened new ground for nursing exploration. In response to the need for nursing input into social and legal issues, nurses now find career opportunities as forensic nurses, legal nurse consultants, and nurse-attorneys (Blais & Hayes, 2011, pg. 75). This paper will explore the ethical and legal issues encountered by nurses in two case studies.
The American Nurses Association Code of Nursing Ethics could influence a final decision in each case study that was presented. The six caps study revealed family members to have conflict in their desires when it came time for a decision in going ahead with surgery (the father’s desire) and having a poor quality of life as the outcome (the adult children’s belief based on physicians prognosis). The adult children believe that their mother would not want to have the
References: American Nurses Association, Code of Ethics for Nurses. (2014). Retrieved from http://nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/EthicsStandards/CodeofEthicsforNur ses/Code-of-Ethics.pdf American Nurses Association, End of life issues. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/EthicsStandards/End-of-Life Blais, K.K., Hayes, J.S. (2011). Professional Nursing Practice: Concepts & Perspectives. (6th ed., cpt. 6). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice-Hall. Chitty, K.K. & Black, B.P. (2011). Professional nursing: Concepts and challenges (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders Chmielewski, C. (2013). Values and culture in ethical decision making. The Global Community for Academic Advising. Retrieved from http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Resources/Clearinghouse/View-Articles/Values-and-culture- in-ethical-decision-making.aspx Dahnke, M. D. (2014). Lippincott 's nursing center.com: The role of the American Nurses Association code in ethical decision making... Retrieved from http://www.nursingcenter.com/lnc/static?pageid=864590