Ethical Issues in Nursing Practice

Ethical Issues in Nursing Practice

Nursing practice is governed by professional nursing and healthcare ethical standards outlined in the State laws/regulations, professional nursing association, and organization policies (Masters, 2017). In their daily operations and interactions with patients, nurses encounter an ethical dilemma and decision has to be made. While consulting ethical experts is recommended in many situations, some cases may require a nurse to apply their proficiency in nursing and health care ethics to make an appropriate decision. The essay examines some ethical issues in the nursing profession, including identifying insights into professional boundary-crossing.

Q1. Alerts to potential crossing or violation of professional Boundary

            Boundary crossing can result from confusion or conflict between the need of the patient of the nurse.  Establishing and maintain a professional boundary is not a clear-cut process, but there are dividing lines to which nurses must not go beyond in their practice. Valente (2017) advised nurses to work within the laid down policy framework while giving care and interacting with patients.

The red flags/alerts

The nurse-patient relationship requires nurses to prioritize the needs of patients over anything else. Getting over-involved with the patient is the first alert of violating a professional nursing boundary.  The over involving suggest that a nurse is seeking to meet her needs rather than putting the patient’s need first (Valente, 2017). The following problems have been identified by the National Council of State boards of nursing as possible red flags:

• When the patient pays special attention to the nurse, such as commenting on your dressing, making flattering comments about the nurse to others, and so forth.
• Flirting is a sign of personal relationships. The nurse is expected to use common sense and professional judgment to differentiate between permissible compliments for boosting patient self-esteem and the actual flirting
• Failure to recognize attraction to patient. Some people are inevitably attractive, and it is vital to understand and handle the attraction professionally.
• Have a believe no one else can handle and meet the needs of the patient
• Keeping secrets with the patient such as gifts, handwritten notes, and exclude family members and other health caregivers
• Discussing the personal and intimate problems with the patients as this can threaten the therapeutic patient-nurse relationship.

2. 2. Key terms in nursing professional ethics

Terminal sedation

            Termination sedation involves sedating the suffering patient to unconsciousness to die from starvation, dehydration, or any other complication. The process consists of the withholding of all life-sustaining interventions (McLean, 2016). The method is used in patients that need to be relieved from pain to the point of unconsciousness.

Patient assisted suicide

This method involves the provision of a lethal dose of medication to the patient for self-administration (Frey & Hans, 2016). The process seeks to terminate patient life with dignity and is reached after discussing the end of life options among the patient, care providers, and family members.

Rationale suicide

Rationale suicide is self-slaying, a type of voluntary euthanasia leading to the death of a patient. The patient makes a reasoned choice based on the realistic assessment of the circumstances of life to set the patient free from severe pain, suffering, and emotional distress.

Conclusion

Professional nursing and healthcare ethical standards are outlined in the State laws/regulations, nursing professional association, and organization policies to govern the conduct of nurses.  In discharging health care duties, nurses are required to maintain professional boundary and heighten therapeutic relationships with patients.  Several factors, both external and internal, can contribute to the crossing of professional boundaries. The essay has also noted some life terminating methods currently used in health care. In particular, dying with dignity act must prevail even in ending the life of the patient to relieve them from pain and suffering.

References

Frey, L. M., & Hans, J. D. (2016). Attitudes toward assisted suicide: Does family context matter?. Archives of suicide research, 20(2), 250-264.

Masters, K. (2017). Role development in professional nursing practice. Fourth edition.

Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

McLean, S. A. (2016). Terminal Sedation-Good Medicine, Good Ethics, Good Law. QUT L. Rev., 16, 113.

Valente, S. M. (2017). Managing professional and nurse–patient relationship boundaries in mental health. Journal of psychosocial nursing and mental health services, 55(1), 45-51.