Ethics Assignment Instructions Reflect On Your Experiences
Ethics Assignmentinstructionsreflect On Your Own Experiences In Nur
Reflect on your own experience(s) in nursing by answering the following questions. You may use the table below to answer each question or you may choose to submit a single narrative addressing all four categories below. You may present a hypothetical case if you do not have a personal example.
Describe a time in your clinical practice/nursing experience when you faced or observed a colleague face an ethical dilemma. What happened? Who was involved? Why did you feel this was a dilemma? (hint choice between two undesirable outcomes)
What ethical principle(s) in the Belmont report relate to the ethical dilemma you describe above? E.g., How does the situation you describe relate to the principle(s)?
What could be done in the situation you described to preserve the patient/family/population/community rights? (hint what model or example of ethical decision making applies in this situation?)
How could you as the RN advocate for the best interest of anyone involved in the situation you describe? What would you do in the future if faced with a similar situation? (hint what nursing professional code of ethics apply to the situation)
What is Informed Consent and Institutional Review Board (IRB)? Why are they important in nursing research?
Paper For Above instruction
In my nursing practice, I encountered an ethical dilemma involving maintaining patient confidentiality while also needing to disclose critical health information to protect the patient and others. During a clinical rotation, I observed a colleague inadvertently sharing a patient's sensitive information with a visitor without proper authorization. The involved parties included my colleague, the patient, the visitor, and myself as a student observer. This incident raised a dilemma because it concerned balancing the ethical obligation to respect patient privacy against the potential need to prevent harm—such as reporting communicable diseases or safeguarding vulnerable populations.
The ethical principles from the Belmont Report that are relevant include respect for persons and beneficence. Respect for persons emphasizes honoring patient autonomy and privacy, which was compromised in this scenario. Beneficence involves promoting the well-being of patients by preventing harm—here, failure to protect confidentiality could diminish trust and cause psychological distress. The dilemma was further compounded by institutional policies and professional standards emphasizing confidentiality but also recognizing situations where disclosures may be necessary.
To preserve patient rights and rights of others involved, applying a framework such as the ethical decision-making model proposed by Beauchamp and Childress (2013) would be advantageous. This model involves recognizing the ethical issue, gathering relevant facts, considering the affected parties’ rights and interests, exploring options, and making a decision consistent with ethical principles. In this case, if confidentiality was breached unintentionally, immediate steps should include informing the patient and supervisor, documenting the incident, and discussing corrective measures to prevent recurrence. Promoting transparency and accountability aligns with ethical practices and institutional policies.
As a registered nurse (RN), advocacy involves protecting patient integrity and safety while respecting ethical standards. In future similar situations, I would ensure adherence to the Nursing Code of Ethics by the American Nurses Association (ANA), which emphasizes respect, advocacy, and accountability. I would speak up against breaches of confidentiality, support ethical interventions, and educate colleagues about privacy policies. If conflicts arise, I would collaborate with the healthcare team to find ethical solutions that prioritize patient rights and safety.
Informed consent entails informing patients about the purpose, procedures, risks, benefits, and alternatives of a healthcare intervention, enabling them to make voluntary decisions regarding their care. An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee responsible for reviewing and approving research involving human subjects to ensure ethical standards are met. Both are crucial in nursing research to protect vulnerable populations, ensure voluntary participation, and uphold ethical research practices. IRBs help prevent exploitation and misconduct, fostering trust in scientific inquiry and safeguarding participant well-being.
References
- Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2013). Principles of Biomedical Ethics (7th ed.). Oxford University Press.
- Nursing Code of Ethics, American Nurses Association (2015).
- Belmont Report. (1979). Ethical Principles and Guidelines for Research Involving Human Subjects.
- American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements.
- Royal College of Nursing. (2018). Ethical Principles in Nursing Practice.
- Shaw, S., & McDonald, M. (2012). Clinical ethics in healthcare. Elsevier Health Sciences.
- Siegel, J. (2015). Understanding research ethics in nursing. Nursing Ethics, 22(6), 687-697.
- Resnik, D. B. (2018). The ethics of research with human subjects. The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 46(3), 465-473.
- National Institutes of Health. (2020). Protecting Human Research Participants. Office of Extramural Research.
- Gillon, R. (2015). An introduction to medical ethics. Cambridge University Press.