Ethics and Professional Issues

Running head: ESSAY
Ethics and Professional Issues
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1ESSAY
Introduction- The nature of the nursing profession takes into account the fact that all
professionals must perform their duties, in alignment with nursing ethics, while exploring
their regular interactions with the patients in care. Time and again it has been found that
nursing staff are entitled with the responsibility of placing due emphasis on nurture and care
of their patients, in place of merely providing a cure for diseases (Butts and Rich 2019).
Additionally, nursing ethics also comprise of the characteristics everyday nursing practice
that helps the professionals to resolve moral dilemmas. Owing to the fact that decisions
related to life and death of the patients form a core component of nursing, maintaining ethical
standards is imperative for the integrity of their profession (Kangasniemi, Pakkanen and
Korhonen 2015). In addition, while delivering care services, the nurses are also expected to
provide support to each other, with the aim of fulfilling their ethical obligations to the public
and the occupation. This assignment will identify the ethical and legal dilemmas that arose, in
relation to administration of flu vaccines.
Issues identified- The major issue identified in the case study involves a violation of
patient safety. The patient Mrs Quinn demonstrated refusal, with respect to administration of
influenza vaccine, which in turn can be accredited to her probable history of an allergic
reaction to flu vaccine. However, despite knowing the wishes of the patient, in relation to her
treatment procedure, Dorinda, the newly qualified registered nurse committed a grave
mistake in wrongly administering the vaccine to Mrs Quinn, in place of Mrs Benson. Patient
safety is an umbrella term that commonly refers to the discipline that highlights safety of
consumers and/or clients in healthcare services, with the assistance of disease prevention,
reporting, reduction, and investigation of medical errors that often result in manifestation of
adverse effects (Carayon et al. 2014). The magnitude and frequency of preventable adverse
events that are endured by patients has gained attention in recent years (DiCuccio 2015). In
addition, reports from the World Health Organisation provides evidence for the fact that as

2ESSAY
much as 1 in 4 patients are commonly subjected to harm, while they receive ambulatory and
primary healthcare services. Furthermore, 134 million adverse events are recorded across
hospitals every year, and these medication errors contribute to roughly $42 billion of annual
costs (WHO 2018). Thus, it can be stated that violation of patient safety by Dorinda was a
major issue in the case scenario. According to Grace (2017) the ethical principle of patient
autonomy highlights the rights of patients in informed decision making, without the influence
of any healthcare provider. Thus, not taking into consideration the wish of the patient
regarding refusal to flu vaccine was a violation of the autonomy principle.
The principle 2 of the code of ethics focuses on maintaining accountability and
professional responsibility. In addition, it also elaborates on the fact that nursing staff are
expected to demonstrate high professional behaviour standards and are also accountable for
their actions and decisions (together with inactions and omissions) (NMBI 2014). Owing to
the fact that Dorinda failed to administer care in a manner that was in accordance to the
expectations and preferences of the patient, it can be stated that there was a major failure on
her part, in showing adherence to the codes of practice. In addition, the department of health
of Ireland has recognised patient safety as the keystone to delivery of quality healthcare
services. Furthermore, the National Patient Safety Office also places a focus on the
enforcement and formulation of patient safety program initiatives (Department of Health
2018). Hence, taking into consideration the fact that adverse events due to medical errors are
associated with significant human and economic costs, and directly threaten the health and
wellbeing of the patients, there is a need to immediately address this concern.
Flu vaccine, also known as influenza vaccines have been found effective in providing
protection against infections that occur due to the action of influenza viruses. Hence, the
hospital authorities were correct in advising the registered nurses to administer the vaccines
to the two patients, to prevent flu outbreak (Blyth et al. 2014). However, there is mounting