Analysis of Ethical Principles in Nursing Case Studies Spring 2018

This assignment provides a case study analysis of ethical principles in nursing, specifically focusing on scenarios involving violations of autonomy, non-maleficence, and beneficence. The first scenario examines a situation where a nurse violated a patient's autonomy by administering CPR against their prior wishes and family's instructions. The second scenario discusses the violation of non-maleficence when RN students failed to take necessary precautions to prevent a patient fall. The third scenario explores a breach of beneficence when a nurse administered vesicant medications without adequately monitoring for complications. The assignment highlights the importance of ethical decision-making and adherence to nursing standards to ensure patient safety and well-being. Desklib provides access to similar solved assignments and resources for students.

Running head: NURSING ASSIGNMENT
Nursing assignment
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1NURSING ASSIGNMENT
Scenario 1
 In this scenario, the ethical principle, respect for autonomy is involved as it is violated.
The 87-year-old female patient and her family members refused CPR insertion. After the
patient collapsed, the nurse gave CPR after the 911 call, however, the patient died. There
was need for DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order after filing of 911. The nurse did not
consider the patient’s wishes of not CPR administration. The ethical principle explains
that the nurse should have acknowledged and considered the patient’s wish in making
choices of no CPR and should have taken actions based on the beliefs and personal
values of the old female patient. This principle is of the main pillars in nursing ethics that
enable patients to make their own decisions about the healthcare treatment and
interventions that they are willing to take or not (Łuków & Różyńska, 2014). The nurse
should have created DNR, as it is a legal order stating that the female does not want CPR
or any other cardiac life support if breathing stops abiding to respect for autonomy.
Scenario 2
 The ethical principle involved is non-maleficence that was violated in the case scenario.
Despite of knowing that there is high fall risk associated with stroke, the RN students did
not take any precautions to prevent risk of falls. The ethical principle explains that there
should be least harm or no harm that result in beneficial outcome. The ethical decision
making process was impaired in the situation as the RNs were unable to assess the post
stroke precautions that were required to be taken. This resulted in patient fall and
inflicted harm as they locked both the doors. According to American Nurses Association
(ANA), nurses have a legal and ethical duty to avoid harm and the RNs should have

2NURSING ASSIGNMENT
ensured patient safety considering post-stroke rehabilitation measures (Nettina, Msn &
Nettina, 2013). The RNs should have considered the ethical practice in prevention of falls
after recent stroke. The patient might have considered not calling for help making an
informed choice, however, the RNs should have maximized knowledge of the patient
about his choices and related consequences and thereby ensuring patient safety and
informed choice.
Scenario 3
 There was violation of ethical principle, beneficence that nursing actions should promote
good for the patient. The act of doing good is thought to be doing best for the patient
ensuring patient safety (Butts & Rich, 2015). In the given scenario, the nurse
administered the vesicant medications with an intention to cure the non-Hodgkin’s
lymphoma. However, the nurse did not monitor the potential complications that were
associated with the medication administration. There was no proper documentation of the
patient’s complains or the nurse took account of the situation. The nurse should have
slowed down or stopped the medication drip, however there was no documentation
provided and as a result, the harm could have been prevented. The case is ethical
negligence that resulted in patient harm hampering safety. The ethical negligence
illustrated failure to act in accordance with nursing standards of being reasonably
competent in making best decisions for the patients ensuing safety with least harm (Haber
& Singh, 2014).

3NURSING ASSIGNMENT
References
Butts, J., & Rich, K. (2015). Foundations of ethical nursing practice. Role development in
professional nursing practice, 117.
Haber, J., & Singh, M. D. (2014). Legal and ethical issues. Nursing Research in Canada-E-
Book: Methods, Critical Appraisal, and Utilization, 112.
Łuków, P., & Różyńska, J. (2014). Respect for Autonomy. Encyclopedia of Global Bioethics, 1-
12.
Nettina, S. M., Msn, A. B., & Nettina, S. M. (2013). Lippincott manual of nursing practice.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.