Question

Case:

You have recently been hired as an OR nurse at Community Hospital. Recently divorced and the mother of two very small children, you were thrilled and relieved to get a job with these hours at the only hospital in this small mid-western city. However, on your second day, you are confronted with an unusual situation. A 35-year-old woman is scheduled to undergo the surgical removal of a benign uterine tumor. While preparing for surgery, you discover that the two physicians performing the surgery are using equipment they are neither familiar with nor authorized to use. In addition, a sales person from the medical device manufacturer that makes the equipment used in the surgery operates the controls while the physicians perform the procedure. You express concern that you are not trained in assisting with the equipment. The physicians tell you not to worry because the sales person is operating the controls. You quietly ask another nurse if that is allowed by hospital policy and she says no. However, she shrugs and whispers, “They do it all the time. It’s not worth making a fuss about if you want to keep your job. Just go along and do what you’re told. It’ll be fine.”

1. Make a list of ethical principles and theories that you will use to ground your arguments and counter-arguments. Be sure that you have included those concepts reflected in the ethical questions. What other ethical concepts may help you generate a robust set of arguments/counter-arguments? Once you have the list, define each of the principles and theories so that everyone in the group shares a common understanding of the central tenets of each of these concepts.

Answer 1

code of ethics for nurses should be used in nurses' daily practice for ethical obligations and duties that are important for the nursing profession. ethical practice important for nurses to avoid dilemmas, conflict, and harm to the patient. ethical principles of autonomy help to make the patient make their own decsions based on their beliefs and values. beneficence should avoid maltreatment, prevent harm, and make quality health care for the patient with the best interest. justice make equal care for the patient that avoid disparities. nonmaleficence needs a nurse
to avoid harm to patients. sometimes these principles make conflict with our nursing practice. ethical theories provide the most ethical resolution as per guidelines for the nursing practice. Deontology theory helps people to adhere to obligations and duties when there are ethical dilemmas. utilitarianism ethical theory helps us to make choices to make benefits for the patient as per their feelings, beliefs, and that value justice. virtue ethical theory makes a judgment for the patient with morals and normal behavior. rights ethical theory based on rights that provide high priority for the patients that should be ethically correct. the ability of nurse in this situation need counted acts of diplomacy and advocacy. nurses' unusual situations conflict with the nursing practice that may harm the patient.
stressful ethical issues for protecting patient the nurse should follow the ethical principles of not to do harm for the patient following nonmaleficence and beneficence obligations in this unusual situation benefit the patients and help to adhere with ethical concern. in this situation, the nurse can inform the situation supervisor or managers to look at the situation. it avoids harm to the patient and follows the ethical principles and theory in nursing practice.