Health Care Ethics

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School

Palm Beach State College *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

NUR1024

Subject

Philosophy

Date

Oct 30, 2023

Type

docx

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Uploaded by DukeMoose3729

Study Guide: Ethics 1. Introduction to Ethics  Ethics as moral and ethical choices that go beyond formal training and job description  Importance of ethical practice in nursing  Link between personal and professional integrity 2. Definitions and Approaches to Ethics  Morality and ethics as broad terms with different perspectives  Metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics  Process of ethical sensitivity, reflection, analysis, and decision making 3. Scope of Ethics  Societal ethics: Legal and regulatory systems, clinical standards, and societal norms  Organizational ethics: Principles and values guiding behavior within an organization  Professional ethics: Ethical standards and expectations of a particular profession  Bioethics and clinical ethics: Ethical questions in biological sciences, healthcare technologies, and decision-making at the bedside  Personal ethics: Individual ethical foundations and practice 4. Attributes and Criteria of Ethical Nursing Practice  Sources of ethics: Family, culture, education, peers, colleagues, and organizations  Ethical problems and dilemmas: Clear solutions and complexities involving competing ethical priorities  Ethical analysis and decision making: Systematic approach, decision models, and asking good ethical questions 5. Theoretical Links in Ethics  Historical roots of ethics in philosophy and medicine  Ethical theories and principles as different lenses for ethical analysis  Ethical principles: Respect for persons, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice, and fidelity Ethical Theories Study Guide: 1. Ethics of Duty (Deontology):  Moral actions are based on self-evident moral duties.  Actions are guided by a sense of duty and the intention to do what is right.  The ethical question: "What is my duty?" 2. Ethics of Consequences (Teleology):  Moral actions are defined by the outcomes or consequences.  Actions are justified based on reaching a particular goal or maximizing the greatest good.

 The ethical question: "What action will promote the greatest good with the least harm?" 3. Ethics of Character (Virtue Ethics):  Emphasizes the character of the individual as the primary source of moral action.  Virtues such as respect, honesty, kindness, and fairness guide actions.  The ethical question: "What is the wise action to take?" 4. Ethics of Relationship (Ethics of Care):  Focuses on the nature and obligations inherent in human relationships and community.  Considers the unique circumstances of each situation and seeks to preserve relationships and minimize harm.  The ethical question: "What is the caring response?" Ethical Issues in Nursing:  Protecting patients' rights and human dignity.  Respecting/not respecting informed consent to treatment.  Providing care with possible risk to the nurse's health.  Using/not using physical or chemical restraints.  Working with staffing patterns that limit patient access to nursing care. Moral Distress:  Moral distress occurs when one is unable to act upon what they believe is the morally appropriate action due to constraints.  It can lead to frustration, guilt, anxiety, and other stress-related symptoms.  Strategies to cope with moral distress include ethical thinking, problem-solving, and creating an organizational climate for open discussion and resolution. Interrelated Concepts:  Ethics is closely intertwined with health policy, health care law, health care economics, and professional identity.  Concepts such as health care quality, safety, evidence, collaboration, and technology and informatics are grounded in ethical obligations.  Leadership in health care involves balancing loyalties and interests. Clinical Exemplars:  Pain Management and Addiction: Ethical dilemmas related to the use and abuse of opioid pain medication and conflicting interests of pain relief and addiction prevention.

 Confidentiality: Dilemmas arising from the duty to report potential domestic or elder abuse conflicting with patient wishes and privacy.

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