Ethical Considerations in Nursing Practice

This assignment delves into the multifaceted realm of ethics in nursing practice. It examines core ethical principles, their application in various clinical situations, and the importance of self-care for nurses' well-being. The document highlights the challenges nurses encounter when navigating ethical dilemmas, emphasizing the significance of professional responsibility and informed decision-making. Moreover, it underscores the crucial role of self-care strategies in promoting nurses' physical, emotional, and mental health, enabling them to provide optimal patient care.

Running head: Nursing Case Study
PROFESSIONAL ROLES AND VALUES IN NURSING
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction:
Advanced practice nurse (APN) denotes all nurses working in expanded nursing roles.
The professional responsibilities of APN are based on the philosophical understandings about
factors that constitute good human action, including the circumstance and reasons affecting it.
The professional healthcare practice is achieved through legal and moral accountability for
professional decisions and actions that follow it. A good practice from a philosophical
standpoint is equivalent to ethical practice, which is attained from interdisciplinary
knowledge, skills, experience and personal traits to identify the needs of the individual or
society (Grace, 2017). Krautscheid, (2014) pointed out that accountability is a core concept
underlying professional nursing practice. Some important ethical principles involved in APN
include: Autonomy, Beneficence, Non malfeasance, Fidelity, Justice and Paternalism
(Nursingworld.org , 2018).
1. My response to Mr. Newcomb’s request.
Considering that Mr. Newcomb is terminally ill, and currently in hospice care, it is
pertinent to be considerate of his final wishes. Johansson & Lindberg, (2015) states that
terminal diseases can threaten the quality of life (QOL), therefore palliative care is vital to
allow the maintenance of well the being of the patient. This also implies caring for the
patient’s psychological and physiological needs. Henoch, Danielsson, Strang, Browall &
Melin-Johansson, (2013) adds that the need of terminally ill patients to express their thoughts
and feelings makes the involvement of palliative care for them a necessity. With such
consideration, I would offer help to set up an arrangement for the patient to meet his mistress,
hoping to make him feel at peace. I would hence respond positively to his request.
2. How I have applied the principles of beneficence, non-malfeasance, autonomy, and
justice to the scenario.

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Within the scope of nursing practice, Beneficence refers to compassion, and taking
positive actions to assist others (patients)with the desire to help them. Non malfeasance refers
to the avoidance of any direct or indirect harm to the patient. Autonomy refers to the respect
of the right of the patient to determine the course of their own action, and support to their
independent decision making. Justice refers to the commensurable and unbiased distribution
of resources, based upon an measure of gain and onus of the decision, ensuring equal rights to
care (Beauchamp & Childress, 2001; Butts &Janie, 2005). The decision to comply with the
request of Mr. Newcomb is in support of Beneficence, as it can help the mental well being of
the patient (making him happy), as well as supporting Non malfeasance, as the patient can
become sad if his final wish were not headed. Additionally, the autonomous of the patient’s
wish is implacable, that allows him to make independent decisions about his like and course
of action, and ensures the providence of justice and equal rights of the patient.
3. How personal beliefs and values influenced my response to the scenario.
My personal beliefs are based upon promotion of ethical practice within nursing. I
believe that every individual has their own rights to make decisions regarding their own lives
(autonomy), and medical care and help should be provided without any discrimination
(justice). Shrestha &Jose (2014)argued that nurse have the responsibility of maintaining the
wel being and quality of life of patients, and must possess both technical and ethical
compeytence. Moreover, an RPN should keep the philosophies of beneficence and Non
malfeasance at the core of their practice, to ensure the well being of the patients above all
(Jarrin, 2013). My decision to assist the patient to fulfill his last wish is based upon such
principles, and my belief that by meeting his mistress, Mr. Newcomb will feel happy, and
thus can have an improved perception of his quality of life.
4. Three strategies to promote self-care suggestible in the scenario.

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Self care is indispensible to personal health, maintain continued care for others and
foster professional growth (CA, 2014). Blum, (2014) points out the commonplace themes of
self care as balanced diet, physical exercise and stress reduction strategies. This is based upon
the adult learning theory, that allows self identification of stressors and indulge in self care
practice that can address them. Three strategies that can be utilized to include self care
practice for the patient includes: Feng Shui, Music Therapy, Tai-Chi or Yogatherapy. These
practices can help the patient to relax, develop a positive attitude, and foster physical, mental
and spiritual well being of the patient. Weber & Sculthorp (2016)suggested that yoga therapy
can be adapted ad different age groups, from children to senior citizen, and can foster a
‘culture of health’. Further it is low cost, affordable and easily accessible, and improve
patient’s experience of care. Additionally, activities like gardening have also been found
beneficial to the mental health and mental well being of individuals (Soga, Gaston &
Yamaura, 2017; Shanahan et al., 2016; Network, 2017).
Conclusion:
In professional nursing practice, the providence of efficient care within ethical
boundary is an important aspect of the practice. This fosters actions that are taken with the
best interest of the patient, and prevent or discourages actions that can have adverse effect on
the patient, either directly or indirectly. It can therefore be concluded that fulfilling the wish
of a terminally ill patient to meet his mistress can help the patient’s well being, while refusal
of the same can make the patient unhappy, and hence adversely affect the mental well being.

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References:
Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2001). Principles of biomedical ethics. Oxford
University Press, USA.
Blum, C. (2014). Practicing Self-Care for Nurses: A Nursing Program
Initiative. Nursingworld.org. Retrieved 24 January 2018, from
http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodica
ls/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-19-2014/No3-Sept-2014/Practicing-Self-Care-for-
Nurses.html
Butts, D. S. N., & Janie, B. (2005). Nursing Ethics: Across the Curriculum and Into Practice
Book Review. Online Journal of Health Ethics, 2(2), 2.
CA, B. (2014). Practicing Self-Care for Nurses: A Nursing Program Initiative. - PubMed -
NCBI. Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 24 January 2018, from
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Grace, P. J., & DRN, P. (Eds.). (2017). Nursing ethics and professional responsibility in
advanced practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Henoch, I., Danielson, E., Strang, S., Browall, M., & Melin-Johansson, C. (2013). Training
intervention for health care staff in the provision of existential support to patients with
cancer: a randomized, controlled study. Journal of pain and symptom
management, 46(6), 785-794.
Jarrin, I. (2013). The Place of Ethics in Mental Health Nurses' Clinical Judgment in the Use
of Seclusion. University of Manitoba (Canada).

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Johansson, H., & Lindberg, L. (2015). How nurses in Kerala experience caring of terminally
ill patients: and how they promote the wellbeing of the patient.
Krautscheid, L. C. (2014). Defining professional nursing accountability: a literature
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Network, C. R. (2017). A countryside for health and wellbeing: the physical and mental
health benefits of green exercise. Cancer.
Nursingworld.org (2018) . Short Definitions of Ethical Principles and Theories Familiar
words, what do they mean?. Retrieved 24 January 2018, from
http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/EthicsStandards/Resources/
Ethics-Definitions.pdf
Shanahan, D. F., Bush, R., Gaston, K. J., Lin, B. B., Dean, J., Barber, E., & Fuller, R. A.
(2016). Health benefits from nature experiences depend on dose. Scientific Reports, 6,
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Shrestha, S., & Jose, P. (2014). Knowledge & Practice of Nursing Ethics and Laws. Journal
of Universal College of Medical Sciences, 2(3), 30-33.
Soga, M., Gaston, K. J., & Yamaura, Y. (2017). Gardening is beneficial for health: A meta-
analysis. Preventive medicine reports, 5, 92-99.
Weber, K., & Sculthorp, B. (2016). Yoga Therapy: Meeting the Needs of The Triple
Aim. Yoga Therapy Today, 22-23.