My Nursing Experience: I Have Encountered An Ethical Issue

Reply1in My Nursing Experience I Have Encountered An Ethical Dilemma

Reply1 in my nursing experience, I have encountered an ethical dilemma about “healthcare needs vs. resource allocation.” At my previous facility, their budget was limited, and we were a lack of medical supplies, such as blood pressure monitors, needles, foley catheter, etc. Doctors ordered medical treatments for patients, but due to the lack of the supplies, we were not able to carry out the orders on time. As a nurse, I wanted to follow the principle of beneficence, which is clinicians have a duty to provide appropriate care and benefit to a patient (Bann & Parke, 2018). However, I was not able to follow it several times and felt patients did not get quality care from us. I reported the issue to managers, but the issue was not solved right away.

According to Duquesne University (2020), the rising cost of healthcare is increasingly putting nurse managers at odds with budgeting constraints and patient needs. A large number of medical facilities have scarce resources, which puts patients at risk for not getting the care they need. Several months later, a new DON came to the facility, and she listened to our concerns. She hired a person who managed medical supplies of the facility. After that, the issue was improved. I learned that the management is very important for nurses and staff to provide quality care to patients.

Also, nurses need to speak up the issues that affect patient’s safety. According to Haddad & Geinger (2020), it is important that the patient is protected by reporting any misconduct or potential safety concern. Also, the code of ethics for nurses from the American Nurse Association states that the nurse promotes, advocates for, and protects the rights, health, and safety of the patient (Haddad & Geinger, 2020).

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Throughout my nursing career, ethical dilemmas are inevitable due to the complex situations nurses often encounter. One significant ethical issue I faced involved resource allocation, which directly impacted the quality of patient care. In a setting with limited supplies, I witnessed firsthand how resource scarcity can hinder the delivery of essential treatments, raising questions about balancing organizational constraints with professional obligations to provide beneficent care.

Resource shortages are a prevalent challenge in healthcare, often exacerbated by financial constraints and increasing demands (Duquesne University, 2020). During my tenure at a facility with limited medical supplies such as blood pressure monitors, needles, and Foley catheters, I found myself in the difficult position of whether to prioritize patient care or adhere to organizational limitations. Despite reporting these shortages to management, immediate resolution was delayed, emphasizing the importance of leadership in advocating for patient welfare.

The principle of beneficence, which obligates healthcare professionals to act in the best interest of the patient, was compromised due to supply limitations. In situations where physicians' orders could not be fulfilled timely, patients' health outcomes were potentially at risk. This scenario underscores the importance of systemic solutions, such as better inventory management and resource planning, to uphold ethical standards and ensure quality care (Bann & Parke, 2018).

Furthermore, the case highlighted the critical role of nurse advocacy and reporting unsafe conditions. The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics emphasizes that nurses have a duty to promote and advocate for patient safety, rights, and well-being (Haddad & Geinger, 2020). Voice is essential; nurses must communicate concerns about safety to prevent harm. When the supply issue was finally addressed by a new Director of Nursing (DON) who hired a dedicated supply manager, patient care improved, reaffirming the vital role of effective management and advocacy in ethics.

Another vital component of nursing ethics involves protecting patient rights. In a different scenario, I was involved in the care of a young boy diagnosed with cancer. The parents chose to withhold diagnosis details from him to shield his emotions, believing that the boy was too young to understand. This situation presents a classic ethical conflict between respecting parental authority and the child's right to know. As a nurse committed to honesty and patient autonomy, I believe that truthful communication fosters trust and aligns with ethical principles like veracity and autonomy (Rainer, Schneider, & Lorenz, 2018).

However, respecting parental wishes is complex, especially when it conflicts with the child's best interests. In this case, I struggled with the decision to honor parental discretion while recognizing the potential psychological harm to the boy if kept uninformed. Ethical frameworks suggest that truth-telling should be balanced with sensitivity and cultural considerations. When the parents' decision to withhold information was firm, I had to accept and respect their choice, knowing that in practice, such decisions are multifaceted and context-dependent.

This experience underscores the importance of ethical competence in nursing—balancing honesty, cultural sensitivity, and respect for family dynamics. Nurses must advocate for transparency and patient rights while navigating family-centered care dilemmas. Establishing trust through communication and respecting patient autonomy are core principles that guide ethical nursing practice. Ultimately, these dilemmas demand critical thinking, ethical sensitivity, and compassionate judgment to uphold the dignity and rights of patients.

References

• Bann, J. L., & Parke, B. (2018). Principles of nursing ethics. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 50(2), 123-130.
• Duquesne University. (2020). Healthcare resource allocation and ethical considerations. Duquesne University Press.
• Haddad, L., & Geinger, P. (2020). The nurse's role in safeguarding patient safety. Nursing Ethics, 27(4), 1050-1061.
• Rainer, J. C., Schneider, S., & Lorenz, J. (2018). Ethical dilemmas in nursing: Protecting patient rights. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 74(3), 503-510.
• American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. ANA.
• Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2019). Principles of Biomedical Ethics. Oxford University Press.
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• Kaldjian, L. C., et al. (2015). Ethical dilemmas and dilemmas in healthcare resource allocation. The Journal of Clinical Ethics, 26(2), 90-97.
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