Analysis of Ethical Practices in Nursing: The Tuskegee Study Example

This essay examines ethical practices in nursing, using the Tuskegee Study as a focal point. It explores the actions of nurse Eunice Rivers within the context of the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics, specifically focusing on provisions 3, 4, and 6. The study analyzes the influence of socio-cultural factors on Rivers' decisions, considering the context of racial segregation and the stigmatization of syphilis. The conclusion highlights Rivers' commitment to her profession and her defiance of societal norms to provide care, emphasizing the importance of ethical considerations in nursing practice. The essay references the CDC and the Tuskegee News for information on the study and Rivers' role.

Running Head: ETHICAL PRACTICE IN NURSING
Tuskegee Study
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

ETHICAL PRACTICE IN NURSING
Nursing by Ethical Guidelines
Nursing is a practice, which involves the art of science along with the emotion of care
towards the clients for a better and fast recovery. The focus of nursing practice lies on the
consideration towards the quick recovery, non-harming, critical assessment and immediate
interventions towards the sufferer. Following by the nursing guidelines, the quality of the
healthcare practice is ensured by the nurses. The ethical guidelines play an efficient role in
understanding of the nurses’ professional sphere and also helps them in encountering the
professional barriers whenever any obligations are faced. The ethical codes by the American
Nurses Association also holds certain laws, which ensures to practice certain norms to reduce
mental and moral distress for the nurses working in the United states.
Relating to the Decision by Eunice Rivers
Eunice Rivers was an African-American nurse who stood to deliver the care for those
African-American who were suffering from decades at Tuskegee (cdc.gov., 2020). The
profession as a nurse speaks about care above all views of the nature. Nurse Rivers did the same
which other has did not tried to. Being a nurse one need to have immense strength in the field of
interpersonal relationship. As Rivers herself was an African-American, she could easily relate
the pain of the community staying at Tuskegee and hence can work for the cause to provide them
a better quality of life. That might be one most probable cause behind Eunice River’s decision
(thetuskegeenews.com., 2020).
ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statement
The recent codes in ANA has focused a lot regarding the care for those who are
regionally isolated and had put up certain clauses and provision for the nurses. According to

ETHICAL PRACTICE IN NURSING
ANA code of ethics Provision 3, Provision 4, and Provision 6 holds certain clauses which shows
that Eunice Rivers has done this for the sake of her profession of health care. Based on Provision
3 River promoted the health care rights for the Tuskegee individuals irrespective of their
community, gender, race and sex. Meanwhile, Provision 4 holds authority that a nurse can have
and pushes their responsibility to provide health care to their optimal strength which River did by
neglecting the harm caused by syphilis. Provision 6 holds that a nurse can either individually or
collectively put effort toward the conduction of secure and delivery of quality health service
which was performed by Eunice Rivers (nursingworld.org., 2020).
Influence by the Socio-Cultural factors
Having sexually transmitting disease like syphilis, made the community isolated from the
rest of the world as every community considered them untouchables. Nurse Rivers neglecting all
those barriers stood for the betterment of that society just for the sake to provide them with a
better quality of life. Moreover, in this world considering white men as the premium power,
River realized the need of the care she delivered to the community.
Conclusion
Hence, the above discussion concludes, that Eunice River had shown certain moral values
to her profession and gone against the gossip world to protect the mankind with the knowledge
which she had. Being an Africa-American she might have gone for the effort based on her
emotion but, this is what present day nursing ethics speaks of.

ETHICAL PRACTICE IN NURSING
References
cdc.gov. (2020). Tuskegee Study - Timeline - CDC - NCHHSTP. Retrieved 20 January 2020,
from https://www.cdc.gov/tuskegee/timeline.htm
nursingworld.org. (2020). Code of Ethics PDF. Retrieved 20 January 2020, from
https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/code-of-ethics-for-nurses/
coe-view-only/
thetuskegeenews.com. (2020). Rivers’ role: A deeper look into nurse Eunice Rivers Laurie.
Retrieved 20 January 2020, from http://www.thetuskegeenews.com/news/rivers-role-a-deeper-
look-into-nurse-eunice-rivers-laurie/article_47f97284-7a37-5b4b-b2e9-9566570b4dae.html