Nursing Decisions

Case Study # 104416

Medical and Health > Nursing
Medical and Health > Public Health Issues

Nursing Decisions

An examination of nursing actions and the ethical principles and standards of practice that govern them.

1,770 words () | 5 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper presents an analysis of situations resulting from nurses' decisions. More specifically, the paper describes and analyzes a situation involving a nurse and a patient from the viewpoint of each of the relevant shareholders. Ethical principles and standards of practice are then discussed in relation to the situation described and it is argued that not only can the nurse's actions not be defended but they demonstrate her potential for harm to all patients.

Outline:
The Nurse's Actions
Jacob as Stakeholder and Informed Consent
Other Stakeholders
Accountability
Respect for the Client
Justice
Fidelity
Principle of Respect for Autonomy
Applicable Legislation
Theoretically Defensible Decision
The Situation as Challenge

From the Paper:

"The CNA (2002) maintains that autonomy or self-determination refers to an individual's right to make choices about her or his own course of action. Nurses respect and promote the autonomy of clients by respecting their choices and informed decisions. According to Beauchamp and Childress (2001), every person has personal autonomy or self-rule that is free from any controlling interference by other people as well as being free from limitations such as lack of understanding. In order to have autonomy, there must be freedom from any type of influences and agency which refers to the capacity for intentional action. A person such as Jacob has to be free to make choices and not have those choices negated by a nurse who imposes her own values and assumptions on the situation. "

Sample of Sources Used:

Beauchamp, T. & Childress, J. (2001). Principles of biomedical ethics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) (2002). Codes of ethics for registered nurses. Ottawa: CNA.
College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) (2004). Consent. Toronto: CNO.
College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) (2004). Professional standards revised 2002. Toronto: CNO.
College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) (1999). Resuscitation revised 1999. Toronto: CNO.