Ethics in Nursing

Ethics in Nursing

Ethics is a pivotal concept in nursing discipline that examines the correctness or wrongness of an action performed in the nursing practice. Ethical principles guide and allow nurses to see the bigger picture in difficult circumstances and directly or indirectly provide answers on conflicting situations. The nurses’ personal values play a critical role that greatly impact the nurses’ abilities to overcome conflicting situations. Nurses must be able to assess, analyze, and clarify their own personal values to acquire a more vivid understanding about what is truly significant in a particular situation. This paper aims to explore the impact of ethics in patient care, specifically in a hospice setting. This paper explores the importance of the application of ethical principles, professional accountability, and self-advocacy in taking care of a dying patient in a hospice setting.

Response to the Situation

The goal of hospice care is to provide compassionate and holistic care. Practicing a compassionate care requires nurses to be completely present and be observant to the dying patient, and support them in their physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and emotional sufferings (Puchalski, 2001). In the given scenario, my initial response is to show empathy and recognize Mr. Newcomb’s request. It is integral to discuss with the patient about his request and recognize his right to choose the type of care he wanted to receive. Instead of being indifferent, I will initiate a therapeutic communication to explore possible anxiety or emotional distress. I believe it is important to go deeper and see what lies beyond the obvious, especially when handling a dying patient. If Mr. Newcomb insists of meeting his mistress, I will respect it whole heartedly without making promises that I will be able to grant his wish. The ethical dilemma in the situation is not on the nature of Mr. Newcomb’s request because it does not compromise the quality of patient care and I do not see negative implications to his health if his request is granted. Granting this request may actually improve the emotional care during this critical situation. However, the ethical conflict lies on the nondisclosure of this request to his wife. It is important to recognize Mrs. Newcomb’s role in the patient care and the sufferings she experiences with her husband’s