NURS3232 Professional Issues In Nursing

Question:

Arthur and Nancy Johnson were happily married for 45 years before Nancy developed Alzheimer’s Disease. Nancy has previously stated that she never wants to go into a nursing home and in moments of insight pleads with her husband to look after her at home. Arthur wants to honour Nancy’s wishes but finds it difficult to care for her alone because she has dementia and wanders; she is also doubly incontinent with an unfortunate habit of daubing faeces on the walls. To be able to get a few hours to sleep at night Arthur sometimes ties Nancy into the bed. He also needs to do the shopping and banking and loves nothing more than the occasional game of bowls and to spend an hour with friends at the bowling club. Unfortunately, Nancy’s behaviour is not appropriate for the bowling club but if Arthur leaves her alone in the house she is incontinent and makes a terrible mess. Arthur’s only solution to prevent the wandering and to save a mess from the incontinence is to tie Nancy to the toilet while he goes out.’ (pp. 191-192)

The Task : Imagine that Nancy has been admitted to hospital and you are a registered nurse working in the ward. During a conversation, Arthur discloses the details of his approach to caring for Nancy at home. What standards of practice, ethical principles, or legal principles are relevant to this case? Briefly explain what each of these principles is. What about the case leads you to choose these standards or principles?

Hints for Completion : you’re thinking ethically and legally from a registered nurse perspective. Focus on what your responsibilities would be as a registered nurse. Think ethically and legally about your role and make sure you remember to consult relevant professional codes of ethics and practice.

Answer:

Nurses are continuously confronted with challenges in their line of work on daily basis and the codes of ethics are very essential to uphold standard ethical and legal principles of conduct to help nurses carry their work professionally in accordance to internationally and local standard practises. Ethical principles are the right or wrong conducts in relation to one’s profession that members of that profession are required to adhere to. Legal principles are the outline laws and guidance that govern a given profession (Jackson & Daly, 2014) In order to deliver good nursing service a nurse must adhere to the following ethical principles:

Justice is fairness: This is a principle code of ethics where nurses are expected to be fair when they carry out their duty among the patients (Gould et al, 2016). In accordance to the Australian nursing and midwifery codes of ethics as a nurse am expected to take care of Nancy with complete fairness despite her condition just the same way I will do to other patients with different conditions within my care.

Beneficence: This is the practice of doing what is right and good for the patient (Keleher et al, 2015). In accordance to the international law for nursing ethics as a nurse am expected to do a good and right thing for Nancy as my patient. Given Nancy’s condition, I am required to continuously monitor her closely to ensure that the behavior mentioned by Arthur such as doubling faeces on the wall does not occur. This will be the right thing to do and that is good for the patient well-being.

Nonmaleficence: According to historical Hippocratic oath Nonmaleficence is not harming the patient either intentionally or unintentionally (Jackson & Daly, 2014). As a nurse who adhere to Australian nursing and midwifery code of ethics my action or deed should not in any way harm Nancy despite whether her condition make her act in a way that is not pleasing to me. I must act within my legal frame work and restrains to ensure my patient is not harmed in any way with my action or other external substances.

Accountability: This is the practice or act of accepting ones action. Nurses are expected to be responsible for their nursing practices and care and other actions in relation to the practice (Creegan, Duffield & Forrester, 2012). Under the Australian nursing and midwifery board guidelines conduct statement 3, am expected to be responsible for Nancy actions and behavior as long as she is within my care and any action that I take for the bitterness of Nancy health and protection am accountable.

Respect for autonomy: this is the practice of accepting the patient as a unique individual who has a right to make their own decision, right to express their opinion freely and their own perspectives. The Australian nursing ethics board guidelines conduct statement 4 outline that nurses should encourage their patients to make their own decision and in line to this guideline I will encourage Nancy to make her decision on how she would like to be treated or how she would like her care to proceed (Keleher et al, 2015). I will encourage her to freely speak her opinion without fear on whatever matter she feel and pleases. As nurse I will let her know that no one will judge her for decision or opinion and that her decision are appreciated and valued. I will not make her do what she does not want or proceed with treatment she does not want.

References

Creegan, R., Duffield, C., & Forrester, K. (2012). Casualisation of the nursing workforce in Australia: driving forces and implications. Australian Health Review, 26(1), 201-208.

Gould, D., Kelly, D., Goldstone, L., & Maidwell, A. (2016). The changing training needs of clinical nurse managers: exploring issues for continuing professional development. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 34(1), 7-17.

Jackson, D., & Daly, J. (2014). Current challenges and issues facing nursing in Australia. Nursing Science Quarterly, 17(4), 352-355.

Keleher, H., Joyce, C. M., Parker, R., & Piterman, L. (2015). Practice nurses in Australia: current issues and future directions. Medical Journal of Australia, 187(2), 108.

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NURS3232 Professional Issues In Nursing

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