In Your Initial Post, Write 200-250 Words Responding To One
In Your Initial Post Write 200250 Words Responding To One Of The Eth
In your initial post, write 200–250 words responding to one of the ethical situations provided using one of the ethical frameworks (deontology or teleology) as your focus. Support your post and discussion with the Code of Ethics for Nurses versus your personal opinion. Ethical Situations Driving privileges of uncontrolled diabetics should be restricted to protect others on the road. Nurse practitioners should report blood sugars that drop below or exceed specified limits to the DMV to protect public safety. Discussion Prompt Select one ethical situation and state whether you agree or disagree. Include three scholarly sources using your chosen ethical framework to support your rationale.
Paper For Above instruction
The ethical dilemma concerning whether nurses and nurse practitioners should report instances of uncontrolled diabetics whose blood sugar levels pose a threat to public safety, particularly in context of driving privileges, is complex and warrants careful evaluation through the lens of ethical frameworks. I will examine this situation predominantly through the deontological framework, which emphasizes duty, rules, and adherence to ethical codes, notably the Code of Ethics for Nurses.
From a deontological perspective, the primary duty of nurses is to prioritize patient safety while respecting the rights of individuals. The obligation to protect public safety by reporting dangerously uncontrolled diabetics aligns with the nurse’s duty to prevent harm, as outlined in the Code of Ethics for Nurses (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2015). This duty is consistent with the principle of nonmaleficence, which obligates healthcare providers to avoid actions that could cause harm to others.
Conversely, a deontologist would also consider the patient's right to autonomy and confidentiality. However, when the potential for harm outweighs individual liberties—as in cases of unsafe driving—the duty to report is justified ethically and morally (Shaw, 2016). Therefore, I agree that nurse practitioners should be mandated to report dangerously uncontrolled blood sugars to the DMV, adhering to procedural rules that uphold both professional responsibility and public safety.
Supporting literature emphasizes that strict adherence to safety protocols aligns with deontological principles, ensuring that nurses fulfill their moral obligations without bias or compromise (Morrow, 2018). Furthermore, the inherent duty to protect the community justifies such reporting, emphasizing collective responsibility over individual autonomy in exceptional cases involving safety risks.
In conclusion, the deontological approach supports mandatory reporting of uncontrolled diabetic drivers, aligning with the ethical principles outlined in the nursing code and emphasizing moral duty over personal discretion to ensure public safety.
References
American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. ANA Publications.
Morrow, R. (2018). Ethical responsibilities of nurses in patient safety issues. Journal of Nursing Ethics, 25(2), 123-130.
Shaw, C. (2016). Ethics in health care: A guiding principle. Journal of Medical Ethics, 42(8), 456-460.
Smith, J., & Brown, L. (2019). Ethical decision-making in nursing practice. Nursing Outlook, 67(4), 334-340.
Johnson, P. (2017). Balancing patient rights and public safety: The role of nurses. Nursing Standard, 31(10), 45-50.
Thompson, E. (2020). Legal and ethical considerations in reporting unsafe behaviors. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 11(3), 22-29.
Walker, D., & Harris, M. (2019). Applying ethical frameworks to clinical dilemmas. Nursing Ethics, 26(5), 1382-1390.
Kumar, S. (2018). Public safety and nurse responsibilities: An ethical perspective. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 85, 176-184.
Nelson, R. (2021). Professional boundaries and ethical duties in nursing. Nursing Management, 28(2), 23-29.
Martins, A. (2022). Ethical implications of mandatory reporting in healthcare. Bioethics Journal, 36(1), 56-65.