Case Study: Ethical Dilemma in Nursing - BC-NSG-FD401 Assignment

This case study analyzes an ethical dilemma faced by nurses, using an article about the Ebola outbreak to illustrate the challenges. The student's paper defines the ethical dilemma as the conflict between providing quality patient care and protecting the nurse's own health, particularly in infectious environments. The study identifies the professional standards of a healthy work environment and code of ethics. It explores the legal and moral consequences for nurses, other healthcare professionals, and patients, as well as the lack of patient perspective in the article. The student reflects on how they would approach the situation, prioritizing self-care and ethical standards, and highlights the dynamic and complex nature of the nursing profession, including potential conflicts and ethical dilemmas. The paper emphasizes the importance of ethics, nursing standards, and quality care in the nursing profession.

Running head: ETHICAL DILEMMA IN NURSING
ETHICAL DILEMMA IN NURSING
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

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ETHICAL DILEMMA IN NURSING
ETHICAL DILEMMA IN NURSING
1.
Article name: Ebola Exposed an Ethical Dilemma for Nurses: Caring for Patients While
Risking Their Own Health
Author: Josh Cable
Date of published: 4th December 2014
Summary:
The author introduced the article by stating the ongoing outrages of nurses occurring
throughout different countries concerning the safety of nurses, who are especially giving care
to Ebola patients and susceptible to get infected. As per a nurse they are unable to follow the
ethical demands of treatment before or after the particular diagnosis is done.
The primary motto of all the nurses is to give quality care maintaining the ethical
guidelines. However, conflicts can happen between nurses and patients hindering the nursing
efficacy. The Ebola outbreak was a perfect example where the nurses work in infectious
environment staking their health only to serve the patients. As the patient condition degrade
the probability of infection increases and so is the nursing duty, which create a dilemma in
nurses between prioritized their own health or professional responsibilities.
Concerning the Blueprint for 21st Century Nursing Ethics, it must be the foundation
of nursing though adding self-awareness can be an important intervention associated with
adequate ethical cultural support (EHS Today, 2020).
2.
The professional standard primarily highlighted in the article is the “Healthy
Environment” and “code of ethics.” The development of a healthy work environment (HWE)
helps nurses to deliver the best level of caring to patient care. Enforcing HWE practices

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outshine low performing nurses. Those include improved workplace environment health,
stronger employment and retention for staff, reduced ethical distress and lower levels of
occupational harassment. Whereas, HWE is a necessity for nurses working in contagious
environment. Code of ethics is discussed in context of giving care and taking care of self for
avoiding infectious disease (Occupational-Health-Nursing-Practice-Standards-2003.pdf,
2017).
3.
a. Training, state and federal regulations, area of practice and general standards performed by
nurses at a strong professional standard and also subject to legal affairs. It subjects the nurse
to lawsuits anytime a nurse's work slips beyond reasonable levels of quality and standard
(Ncchc.org, 2020).
b. The moral ethics lies between the professional priority and the personal care. Personal
development or care is the primary factor marked in moral ethics. In this chosen article the
dilemma of giving quality care to Ebola infected patient and staying safe from getting
infected leads to the moral concern. However, the article concluded self-care as an tool of
filling the dilemma related gap (Ncchc.org, 2020).
c.
The article lacks to discuss the prospective of the patients, which is an integral part of the
health care system.
4.
If I am a nurse find myself in this situation I would choose the recommendation given
in the article that is self-care in addition to maintain ethical standard. I shall also incorporate
education to gain knowledge about the condition and prevention. As a nurse my first duty is
to prioritize the patient. I would follow the effective communication techniques to create a

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bond with the patient to avoid any conflict even if there is an inevitable gap in the treatment
(O'Hagan, et al., 2013).
5.
From the paper I wrote I learn that nursing is an dynamic and complex profession.
There are possibility of conflict, job dissatisfaction and personal harm in this profession. The
nurses
are the first line of caregiver and so most potential to get infected. A nurse can deliberately
try to give quality care to patient and still get blamed. This condition leads to many adverse
situations including ethical dilemma. However, ethics, nursing standards and quality care
should be the most important aspects for the nurses keeping in mind the importance of their
role.

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References:
EHS Today. (2020). Ebola Exposed an Ethical Dilemma for Nurses: Caring for Patients
While Risking Their Own Health. EHS Today. Retrieved 16 April 2020, from
https://www.ehstoday.com/health/article/21916672/ebola-exposed-an-ethical-
dilemma-for-nurses-caring-for-patients-while-risking-their-own-health.
Ncchc.org. (2020). Ethical and Legal Issues. Ncchc.org. Retrieved 16 April 2020, from
https://www.ncchc.org/cnp-ethical-legal.
O'Hagan, S., Manias, E., Elder, C., Pill, J., Woodward-Kron, R., & McNamara, T. et al.
(2013). What counts as effective communication in nursing? Evidence from nurse
educators' and clinicians' feedback on nurse interactions with simulated
patients. Journal Of Advanced Nursing, 70(6), 1344-1355.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.12296
wp-content/uploads/03/Occupational-Health-Nursing-Practice-Standards-2003.pdf. (2017).
[Ebook]. Retrieved 16 April 2020, from http://cohna-aciist.ca.

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