Directions: Initial Post As A Student Nurse

Directionsinitial Postas A Student Nurse One Of Your First Assignmen

As a student nurse, one of your first assignments involves caring for an elderly client. During your interaction, you overhear a discussion between the senior woman and her husband. The woman expresses her desire to refuse further treatments and instead opt for comfort measures and hospice care. Her husband disagrees with this choice. Both turn to you and ask, "What do you think?" Your task is to describe three ethical principles relevant to this situation, explain how five of the nine provisions of the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses relate to and could influence your response to the family's concerns, and consider different perspectives from your colleagues' posts.

Paper For Above instruction

The scenario involving an elderly patient’s decision to pursue hospice care presents complex ethical considerations in healthcare. Nurses often encounter situations where respecting patient autonomy conflicts with beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. Addressing these principles provides a framework for navigating such difficult dialogues, ensuring patient-centered care while adhering to professional standards and ethical guidelines.

Ethical Principles in the Context of End-of-Life Decision Making

Three fundamental ethical principles are particularly salient in this scenario: autonomy, beneficence, and justice. Autonomy underscores the patient’s right to make informed decisions regarding her own healthcare (Beauchamp & Childress, 2013). The elderly woman’s expressed wish to discontinue treatment and pursue hospice illustrates her exercising this right, emphasizing respect for her personal values and preferences. Beneficence involves actions that promote the well-being of the patient; in this context, it supports honoring her choice to prioritize comfort over aggressive treatments that may not improve her quality of life (Jonsen, Siegler, & Winslade, 2010). Justice relates to fairness in healthcare resource distribution and respecting the patient’s rights within the healthcare system, ensuring her wishes are appropriately honored and that she receives dignity in her care (Fletcher, 2012). These principles guide nursing practice toward respecting autonomy while balancing beneficence and justice in end-of-life care decisions.

Application of the ANA Code of Ethics Provisions

The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics provides comprehensive guidelines that influence nurses' responses in complex clinical situations. Five provisions particularly relevant here include:

1. Provision 1: The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient, advocating for their expressed wishes and best interests (ANA, 2015).
2. Provision 2: The nurse remains committed to the patient’s dignity and rights, reinforcing respect for end-of-life choices (ANA, 2015).
3. Provision 3: The nurse collaborates with the healthcare team to ensure the patient’s desires are integrated into the care plan, respecting informed consent and autonomy (ANA, 2015).
4. Provision 4: The nurse advocates for the patient’s safety and comfort, ensuring that palliative and hospice resources are appropriately utilized (ANA, 2015).
5. Provision 8: The nurse maintains competence and integrity in providing end-of-life care, ensuring ethical standards are upheld (ANA, 2015).

These provisions collectively emphasize the importance of respecting the patient's wishes and ensuring that the care provided aligns ethically and professionally. The nurse’s role extends to advocacy and education, helping both the patient and family understand the implications and benefits of hospice care, ultimately promoting informed decision-making and ethical integrity in practice.

Interpreting and Comparing Perspectives

In the responses to colleagues’ posts, a nurse might analyze differing perspectives on the ethical principles or provisions emphasized. For example, one colleague might focus heavily on autonomy, emphasizing the patient's right to refuse treatment, while another might highlight beneficence or justice, supporting the husband's viewpoint for ensuring continued treatment. Comparing these perspectives fosters a broader understanding of ethical decision-making, encouraging nurses to balance respect for individual choices with considerations of family dynamics and resource allocation. Engaging in such discussions enhances critical thinking and cultivates a nuanced approach to ethical dilemmas in nursing practice.

Conclusion

Respecting patient autonomy, practicing beneficence, and ensuring justice are central to ethically managing end-of-life decisions. The ANA Code of Ethics serves as a guiding framework to advocate for the patient's wishes, uphold professional integrity, and facilitate collaborative, patient-centered care. As future nurses, understanding and applying these principles and provisions will empower us to navigate complex ethical situations effectively, ensuring that we honor our patients' dignity and preferences while fulfilling our professional responsibilities.

References

• American Nurses Association. (2015). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice (3rd ed.). ANA.
• Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2013). Principles of biomedical ethics. Oxford University Press.
• Fletcher, J. (2012). Justice in health care: An overview. Journal of Medical Ethics, 38(3), 123-127.
• Jonsen, A. R., Siegler, M., & Winslade, W. J. (2010). Clinical ethics: A practical approach to ethical decisions in clinical medicine. McGraw-Hill Education.
• National Institutes of Health. (2020). End-of-life care: Ethical considerations. Retrieved from https://www.nih.gov/health-information
• Pellegrino, E. D., & Thomasma, D. C. (2013). For the patient's good: The practice of ethics in medicine. Oxford University Press.
• Sugarman, L., & Hamric, A. B. (2009). Ethical dilemmas in end-of-life care. American Journal of Nursing, 109(9), 40-47.
• Jones, D. A. (2014). Respect for autonomy in healthcare: Challenges and solutions. Ethics & Medicine, 30(2), 63-66.
• Royal College of Nursing. (2018). Principles for end-of-life care. RCN Publications.
• World Health Organization. (2015). Palliative care. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/health-topics/palliative-care