Competency Identify Ethical Dilemmas Encountered In Professi

Competencyidentify Ethical Dilemmas Encountered In Professional Nursin

Identify ethical dilemmas encountered in professional nursing practice. Select a current ethical dilemma in nursing from your workplace or recent news to use as the basis for your presentation. Create a PowerPoint® presentation that includes the following: The ethical dilemma, The ethical issues related to the dilemma, The impact on nursing and patient care, Strategies that support person and family centered care.

Paper For Above instruction

Ethical dilemmas are a fundamental aspect of professional nursing, often challenging nurses to balance competing moral principles while ensuring optimal patient outcomes. This paper explores a contemporary ethical dilemma encountered in nursing—particularly relevant in recent healthcare debates—focusing on euthanasia and physician-assisted death. This case is highly pertinent due to its complex ethical, legal, and emotional implications, and it exemplifies the importance of ethical reflection, communication, and person-centered strategies in nursing practice.

The chosen ethical dilemma revolves around the decision-making process concerning end-of-life choices, specifically the debate surrounding physician-assisted death. Recently, several jurisdictions have amended laws to permit euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide, creating a landscape where nurses frequently confront ethical conflicts when caring for terminally ill patients who request such intervention. Nurses may encounter situations where patients express a desire to end their suffering through assisted death, yet this conflicts with their personal, professional, and organizational values.

The core ethical issues involve respecting patient autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. Patient autonomy asserts the right of individuals to make decisions about their own bodies and lives, including end-of-life choices. Beneficence and non-maleficence require practitioners to act in the best interest of the patient and to do no harm, which can be interpreted variably in cases involving assisted death. Justice concerns relate to equitable access and moral acceptability of euthanasia policies across societal groups.

This dilemma's impact on nursing and patient care is profound. Nurses must navigate their professional responsibilities while managing personal moral beliefs and organizational policies. The emotional burden on nurses can be significant, affecting their psychological well-being and potentially leading to moral distress—a state of knowing the ethically correct action but being constrained from acting accordingly. For patients, the potential for relief from suffering must be balanced against societal and legal considerations, influencing their trust, sense of dignity, and overall quality of end-of-life care.

To address such ethical dilemmas effectively, strategies that promote person and family-centered care are essential. These include comprehensive ethical education and ongoing training that prepare nurses to handle complex scenarios involving end-of-life decisions. Implementing open communication models, such as shared decision-making, fosters transparency and allows patients and families to participate actively in care choices. Utilizing ethics consults or committees can provide additional support and facilitate consensus when conflicts arise.

Another important strategy involves respecting diverse cultural, spiritual, and personal values when discussing end-of-life options. Nurses should employ compassionate communication techniques to ensure patients’ values and preferences are honored, thus supporting dignity and autonomy. Institutional policies that clarify ethical standards and legal boundaries help guide nurses through these difficult decisions, providing clarity and moral reassurance.

In conclusion, the ethical dilemma of physician-assisted death highlights the importance of moral resilience, education, and respect for individual rights within nursing practice. Nurses play a crucial role in advocating for patients while maintaining their ethical integrity, ensuring care remains person-centered, compassionate, and legally compliant. Emphasizing structured strategies such as ethics consultation, effective communication, and continuous education can empower nurses to navigate these dilemmas confidently and ethically.

References

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• Deberg, J. (2020). Ethical dilemmas in end-of-life care: A nursing perspective. Journal of Nursing Ethics, 27(2), 345–359.
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• Jonsen, A. R., Siegler, M., & Winslade, W. J. (2010). Clinical Ethics: A Practical Approach to Ethical Decisions in Clinical Medicine (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
• National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). (2021). End-of-Life Care and Ethical Dilemmas. NCSBN Policy Brief.
• Royal College of Nursing. (2018). Ethical issues in end-of-life care. RCN Publications.
• Sullivan, C. K. (2017). Ethical dilemmas and moral distress in nursing practice. Journal of Healthcare Ethics, 19(3), 112–125.
• United States Congress. (2022). Legislation related to physician-assisted death. Government Publishing Office.
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