Journal Instructor Guidelines: First Enter Scores Between 0

Journalinstructor Guidelines First Enter Scores Between 0 And 4 Int

Journal instructor guidelines: First enter scores (between 0 and 4) into yellow cells only in column F. Then, include student-specific feedback in the appropriate cell. Each week from Units 1-10, you will participate in a reflective journal exercise. Reflective writing influences academic learning and self-development. Your journal assignments are an opportunity to write about what you have learned each week.

It is important to show you can link the new knowledge acquisition each week to your own real life experiences and understanding. Your journal entries will not be read by classmates, only by your professor, so think of them as being informal pieces of writing with the intent for you to express yourself.

Paper For Above instruction

The weekly reflective journal assignments serve as a vital tool for nursing students to internalize and connect their academic learning with real-world clinical practice, particularly in the context of advanced practice nursing. These journals encourage critical thinking, self-assessment, and the development of ethical reasoning, all essential qualities for future nurse leaders. This paper will analyze the concepts of moral distress and moral integrity, evaluate an ethical decision-making model suitable for resolving moral distress, and reflect on the important lessons learned from the initial discussion topics.

Moral Distress vs. Moral Integrity in Advanced Nursing Practice

Moral distress occurs when nurses recognize the ethically appropriate action but are constrained from acting accordingly due to institutional policies, legal limitations, or hierarchical pressures. For example, an advanced practice nurse (APN), such as a nurse practitioner, might know that administering a certain medication is necessary but is prevented by hospital policy or physician directives. This scenario can lead to frustration, guilt, and emotional exhaustion, impairing the nurse's well-being and compromising patient care. Recognizing and addressing moral distress is crucial in fostering a healthy, ethically responsible clinical environment.

In contrast, moral integrity involves consistently acting in accordance with one’s ethical principles regardless of external pressures. For instance, an APN who advocates for patient autonomy by ensuring informed consent, even when facing opposition from colleagues or administrators, demonstrates moral integrity. Upholding such ethical standards reinforces trust and professionalism, ultimately benefiting patient outcomes and promoting a culture of ethical accountability within healthcare environments.

Evaluating an Ethical Decision-Making Model

One effective model for resolving moral distress is the "Four Principles Approach," based on Beauchamp and Childress’ framework, which emphasizes respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. As a nursing leader, adopting this model fosters a structured and ethically sound process for decision-making. The model involves recognizing ethical dilemmas, identifying relevant principles, exploring possible actions, and evaluating options based on these core principles.

For example, when faced with a moral dilemma about resource allocation during a pandemic, a nurse leader could use this approach to balance patient autonomy (respecting patient preferences), beneficence (acting in patients' best interests), non-maleficence (avoiding harm), and justice (fair distribution of limited resources). This systematic approach helps clarify the ethical conflicts, guides appropriate actions, and reduces moral distress among staff by providing an organized framework for ethical deliberation.

Lessons Learned from Discussions and Reflection

Through the discussions in Topics 1 and 2, I have deepened my understanding of the complex nature of ethical challenges in nursing practice. Recognizing the distinction between moral distress and moral integrity underscores the importance of fostering an environment where nurses can voice ethical concerns without fear of reprisal, thereby promoting a culture of ethical resilience. Additionally, evaluating decision-making models like the Four Principles Approach has highlighted the importance of structured ethical reasoning to address moral conflicts effectively. These insights enhance my capacity as an emerging nurse leader to advocate for ethical practices, support my colleagues, and deliver patient-centered care rooted in moral principles.

Furthermore, reflecting on real-life applications emphasizes the necessity of continual ethical education and self-awareness for advanced practice nurses. This ongoing reflection prepares future nurse leaders to navigate moral complexities confidently and uphold ethical standards consistently, ensuring both professional integrity and high-quality patient care.

In summary, the integration of ethical knowledge from these discussion topics will guide my approach to future dilemmas, emphasizing ethical clarity, compassionate leadership, and the importance of moral resilience in complex clinical environments. Preparing to present these insights in my Unit 7 PowerPoint will involve outlining the key concepts of moral distress, moral integrity, ethical decision-making frameworks, and practical strategies for fostering ethical practice within healthcare settings.

References

• Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2013). Principles of Biomedical Ethics. Oxford University Press.
• Corley, M. C. (2002). Nurse moral distress: A survey of registered nurses. Nursing Ethics, 9(6), 636–647.
• Jameton, A. (1984). Nursing Practice: The Ethical Issues. Prentice-Hall.
• Ulrich, C. M., et al. (2019). Ethical Decision-Making in Nursing: A Review of the Literature. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 51(3), 328–337.
• Hunt, J. (2020). Ethical Leadership in Nursing: Promoting a Culture of Integrity. Nursing Management, 27(2), 20–25.
• Pharomber, K., & Jones, T. (2021). Managing Moral Distress in Healthcare Settings. Journal of Nursing Administration, 51(7/8), 351–357.
• Benner, P., et al. (2010). Educating Nurses: A Call for Radical Transformation. Jossey-Bass.
• Canadian Nurses Association. (2017). Code of Ethics for Registered Nurses. CNA.
• American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. ANA.
• Jonsen, A. R., Siegler, M., & Winslade, W. J. (2015). Clinical Ethics: A Practical Approach to Ethical Decisions in Clinical Medicine. McGraw-Hill Education.