Ethical Issues Concept Map:
Purpose of the Assignment: The purpose of the assignment is to provide the student with an opportunity to analyze an ethical issue in healthcare. An ethical decision-making model will be used along with application of ethical principles and the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nurses.
Student Approach to the Assignment: The scope of this assignment was to analyze an ethical issue in healthcare, and for me one of the hardest portions of care I’ve had to be a part of was the conversations in the ICU to move a patient to comfort care. It’s hard to not let your own opinion influence the decision making process of the patient. For the nurse it presents the challenge of also having to stay in your scope as you answer questions when the doctor leaves the room, so I wanted to capture that as I discussed the stakeholders involved.
Reason for the Inclusion of the Assignment in the Portfolio: I included this assignment in my portfolio because it reflects the complicated dynamic of our role as nurses, and the way we have to consider the whole situation in every patient interaction we have.
Domain 6: Interprofessional Partnership
31. Articulates the values of the profession and the role of the nurse as member of the interdisciplinary health care team. (Domain 6) (6.3, 6.4)
-The nurse is vital in this situation because we are often left in the room to discuss the details of a decision like transitioning a patient to comfort because often the doctor leaves and the patients are still processing and have to ask questions. As I consider the different possible outcomes, I’m addressing that I play a vital role in meeting the patient’s needs in this situation as well as the provider, we work together to relay information and assess patient understanding.
32. Adhere to the registered nurse scope and standard of practice. (Domain 6) (6.3, 6.4)
-This assignment highlights the particular challenge we face in having to stay within our scope even though we may be privy to information beyond that of what we’re allowed to relay to the patient. We have to let providers handle their portion and stick to our job.