- Describe a recent or current ethical issue you have faced in nursing practice or which has attained national attention. Discuss the application of ethical theories or principles to the issue. Provide examples or use your DNP Project if you have any potential ethical issues /concerns and describe how you will address this? Provide literature support.
2. Based on your response from above, provide a decision tree of how you came to the decision of ethical theory application. Table 1: “Checkpoints for Ethical Decision Making,” in the article “Resolving Ethical Dilemmas: Applying the Institute for Global Ethics’ Ethical Fitness’ Model to Occupational and Environmental Health Practice Issues,” provides a model for guidance.
this is a discussion question needing at least 250 words, 2 references for each question in APA 7 format within last 5 years
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Introduction:
Ethical issues are common in nursing practice and require careful consideration and application of ethical theories or principles. As a medical professor, I encounter such issues frequently in classrooms and clinical settings. In this essay, I will discuss a current ethical issue in nursing practice, describe the application of ethical theories, and provide examples from literature. I will also provide a decision tree of how I came to the decision of ethical theory application using “Checkpoints for Ethical Decision Making” in the article “Resolving Ethical Dilemmas: Applying the Institute for Global Ethics’ Ethical Fitness’ Model to Occupational and Environmental Health Practice Issues.”
1. Describe a recent or current ethical issue you have faced in nursing practice or which has attained national attention. Discuss the application of ethical theories or principles to the issue. Provide examples or use your DNP Project if you have any potential ethical issues/concerns and describe how you will address this? Provide literature support.
One current ethical issue in nursing practice is the allocation of scarce resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. With limited resources such as ventilators, personal protective equipment (PPE), and hospital beds, it is essential to determine which patients receive them. The ethical principle of justice requires the fair distribution of scarce resources, but how can this be achieved during a pandemic when the demand for resources exceeds the supply?
Utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics are ethical theories that can guide decision-making in this situation. Utilitarianism suggests that the decision should maximize the greatest good for the greatest number of patients. Deontology states that the decision should uphold moral principles regardless of the consequences. Virtue ethics emphasizes the character or virtues of the decision-maker and their motivation for the decision.
Evidence from literature suggests that ethical decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic should consider various factors, including clinical need, prognosis, patient preference, and caregiver safety. A study by Emanuel et al. (2020) proposed a framework for allocating scarce medical resources based on saving the most lives, saving the most years of life, respecting essential societal functions, and promoting instrumental value.
Regarding my DNP project, ethical issues center around the use of telemedicine in the care of cancer patients. While telemedicine offers convenience and safety for patients and providers during the pandemic, it also poses ethical challenges such as maintaining confidentiality, respecting patient autonomy, and ensuring the quality of care. I will address these concerns by following ethical guidelines such as ensuring informed consent, respecting patient privacy, and providing adequate training for healthcare providers.
2. Based on your response from above, provide a decision tree of how you came to the decision of ethical theory application.
Based on the ethical issue of allocating scarce resources during the COVID-19 pandemic, I used the “Checkpoints for Ethical Decision Making” model (Jonsen et al., 2010) to make a decision tree. The model consists of seven checkpoints: recognize the ethical issue, gather information, articulate the problem, identify the values involved, consider alternatives, implement the decision, and evaluate the process and outcome.
In checkpoint one, I recognized the ethical issue of allocating scarce resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. In checkpoint two, I gathered information by reviewing relevant literature and guidelines. In checkpoint three, I articulated the problem by stating the ethical principle of justice and the challenge of resource allocation. In checkpoint four, I identified the values involved, such as fairness, autonomy, and safety.
In checkpoint five, I considered alternatives by applying ethical theories such as utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics. In checkpoint six, I implemented the decision by using a framework proposed by Emanuel et al. (2020) that prioritizes saving the most lives and promoting essential societal functions. In checkpoint seven, I evaluate the process and outcome by monitoring the ethical implications of the decision and making adjustments as needed.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, ethical issues are common in nursing practice and require careful consideration and application of ethical theories or principles. Allocating scarce resources during the COVID-19 pandemic is a current ethical issue that can be addressed by applying ethical theories and following ethical decision-making models such as “Checkpoints for Ethical Decision Making.” By using evidence-based decision-making, healthcare providers can ensure that their decisions align with moral principles and offer the best possible care to patients.
