The Moral Spectator: Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare

QUESTION

The Moral SpectatorOverview

The nurse is often a moral spectator observing decisions made by others and dealing with the patient’s response to those decisions.

Instructions

Select an article about a situation where a decision by a physician, insurance company, government agency, or health institution adversely affected a patient or countermanded a patient’s wishes. It is recommended that you utilize the LIRN Library when conducting research for this paper. You can access the LIRN Library in your Canvas navigation bar.

• The nurse’s role in affirming the patient’s wishes and risks involved
• The social and economic consequences of reversing this decision
• Guidance from the Code of Ethic for Nurses that sheds light on this situation
• The lessons to be learned for similar future situations
• The moral residue that haunts the nurse

Provide a bibliography of at least three references. The first should be the citation for the article you selected, and another is the Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements.

ANSWER

 The Moral Spectator: Navigating Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare

Introduction

Nurses play a critical role as moral spectators in healthcare, observing decisions made by various stakeholders and their impact on patients. In this essay, we will examine an article that highlights a situation where a decision adversely affected a patient’s wishes. We will explore the nurse’s role in affirming patient preferences, the social and economic consequences of the decision, guidance from the Code of Ethics for Nurses, lessons for the future, and the moral residue that can linger with nurses.

Selected Article: [Provide the citation of the selected article]

The Nurse’s Role in Affirming Patient’s Wishes and Risks Involved

As moral advocates, nurses are responsible for upholding the autonomy and dignity of their patients. When decisions made by other healthcare stakeholders, such as physicians, insurance companies, government agencies, or health institutions, countermand a patient’s wishes, nurses must serve as their voice. The nurse-patient relationship is built on trust, empathy, and mutual respect, allowing the nurse to understand and advocate for the patient’s preferences, ensuring their decisions are acknowledged and considered during the decision-making process. The risks involved in not affirming patient wishes can result in compromised patient outcomes, dissatisfaction, and potential legal implications for healthcare providers.

The Social and Economic Consequences of Reversing the Decision

Reversing a patient’s decision can have significant social and economic consequences. Patient dissatisfaction may lead to a loss of trust in healthcare providers and institutions, impacting patient retention and reputation. From an economic perspective, malpractice claims and legal actions may arise if the patient’s autonomy and wishes are not respected, leading to potential financial burdens on the healthcare institution.

Guidance from the Code of Ethics for Nurses

The Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements provides essential guidance for nurses facing ethical dilemmas. Provision 1: Respect for Human Dignity emphasizes the nurse’s responsibility to respect and advocate for the autonomy and decision-making of their patients. Provision 3: Protection of Patient Rights highlights the nurse’s duty to safeguard patients’ rights and ensure that their decisions are honored, even in the face of challenges from other stakeholders. By adhering to these provisions, nurses can navigate ethical challenges and maintain their commitment to patient-centered care.

Lessons for Similar Future Situations

From the encountered situation, nurses can learn the importance of proactive communication and interdisciplinary collaboration. By involving all stakeholders early in the decision-making process, misunderstandings and potential conflicts can be addressed, and patient preferences can be upheld. Additionally, engaging in ethical discussions and seeking guidance from ethics committees can help nurses navigate complex situations and maintain the patient’s best interests at the forefront.

The Moral Residue that Haunts the Nurse

As moral spectators, nurses may experience moral distress when witnessing decisions that contradict patient wishes. Moral residue can linger within nurses, causing emotional turmoil, burnout, and feelings of powerlessness. To address moral residue, nurses must seek support from colleagues, engage in reflective practice, and access resources such as ethics consultations and counseling services.

Bibliography

[Provide the citation of the selected article]
American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. Silver Spring, MD: ANA.
[Additional reference of choice related to the topic, if applicable]