ETHICS IN NURSING

Case Study: Whose power, whose ethics? A student nurse's

Narrative

Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of Ethics in Nursing in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on Ethics in Nursing in a given case. The research also analyzes many aspects of the case and tries to gauge its effect on the ethical issues.

Table of Contents

Abstract2

Introduction4

Identify the ethical issues involved in this situation / ethical issue7

Ethical decision making model8

1. Identify the problem or dilemma8

2. Identify the potential issues involved9

3. Review the relevant ethical codes10

4. Know the applicable laws and regulations13

5. Decide on what appears to be the best course of action13

The stakeholders involved in the case14

Student's Ethical position15

Moral action plan to implement the resolution previously identified15

Conclusion16

References17

Case Study: Whose power, whose ethics? A student nurse's

Narrative

Introduction

This paper involved a case study on the ethical issues in the practices of nursing. The issues involved here are that, there should not be any restrictions between the student and teacher relationship. Students should be allowed to have a say if they find something unethical or wrong. They should abide by their life values and they must be given the confidence that if they will say against an unethical practice of their teacher, it would not affect their grade or career.

Another issue is regarding the ethics in nursing practices. As the nurses are to provide care to the patients, they are supposed to make patients comfortable rather than hurting their feelings or privacy issues. In this case, as registered nurse was helping the patient in bathing, and he was naked, the nurse should not have allowed other nurses to enter who were not involved in this treatment. As nurses should play the advocate role in favor of their patients, therefore the registered nurse should have been an advocate for her patient. She should have stopped other nurses to enter the bathroom during the bath of the patient.

Other issue is that the other nurses should also have considered the privacy of the treatment and they should not have entered the bathroom. It seemed as if they neglected the patient lying there, or as if they did not notice that the patient was also there. However, this is not true, since they must have realized the presence of the naked patient since the student nurse was also there to assist the registered nurse.

Overview of the ethical dilemma or conflict

This story is an extract from the log of a final year Bachelor of Nursing student on placement in a medical ward of an Australian teaching hospital. The student nurse was invited by a [registered nurse] into a patient's single room with an ensuite bathroom to see a new piece of equipment. A registered nurse was attending to the patient in the bath, which was a new portable bath on loan from the intensive care unit. Several nurses trooped in and out in order to view the new bath and to see how it ...