week 1 dq 1 Max Points: 5.0 Many situations can raise ethical concerns, particularly in the face of disagreement and conflict between parties. However, not all situations of an ethical nature result in values conflict or constitute an ethical dilemma. Explain the characteristics of an ethical dilemma. How do they differ from other situations resulting in disagreement between conflicting preferences, needs, or expectations week 1 dq 2 Consider the age-old tale of the father who stole a loaf of bread to feed his hungry family. Stealing is deemed wrong by our society and is punishable by law. Failing to provide for one’s family is neglectful and fundamentally wrong. What would be the dilemma and the implications of such a crime on the individual, the family, the community, and society? week 2 dq 1 How do personal values, morals, and ethics influence decision making? (Consider your upbringing, your family structure, your socioeconomic status, your community, and your own personal experiences). How do these factors influence your decisions? How might they conflict with the needs, preferences, and biases of your patients and their families? Which ethical theoretical framework best describes your personal worldview? Support your response with examples. dq 2 Read the assigned article, “Dealing With Futile Treatment: A Medical Student’s Perspective.” How does the author describe futile treatment? What ethical dilemmas are faced by health care providers who must address human suffering? How can ethical principles be used to identify the most appropriate decision when conflict arises? week 3 dq 1 Uustal (1993) proposed a decision-making model that provides concrete steps in which to arrive at a morally acceptable solution when faced with an ethical dilemma. What type of an ethical dilemma have you encountered in the clinical setting? How can the decision-making model identified by Uustal be applied to this situation? Be specific when describing each of the nine steps. How do a nurse’s fundamental duties, as described by the Hippocratic Oath and Nightingale Pledge, influence a nurse’s practice and decision making? week 4 dq 1 Does the principle of autonomy guarantee a person the right to do something that is harmful to oneself? To others? Explain your response with ethical rationale. What is the difference between beneficence and nonmaleficence? Give examples of each from your clinical practice. week 5 dq 1 Max Points: 5.0 Read the case study below and answer questions 1-6. Ethics Case Study: To Rescue Others at What Risk? ACME Medical Center has been damaged seriously by a recent hurricane. A helicopter that is trying to rescue people stranded by the hurricane has crashed, hitting the wing of the building where the pediatric unit was located. In the midst of the explosion, fire, and confusion, five people make their way to the roof and wait for rescue. They are Mary, a mother carrying her ill infant who was a patient on the unit; Joseph, her husband and the baby’s father; John, a pediatric resident who had been caring for the baby; Margaret, the RN who was on duty in the pediatric unit; and Peter, a transport employee who was helping to prepare patients for rescue and evacuation. Mary says to the group, “I think I hear someone crying. Yes, I can hear cries for help. We’ve got to go back down the stairs and help those people!” Dr. John says, “You women stay here. Joseph and I will go back down and see what we can do.” Joseph looks first at his own ill infant and then down the smoke-filled stairs and replies, “I’m not going back down. It’s too risky. The smoke is too thick. We’d never make it through and survive.” Margaret, the RN, says, “We’ve got to do something. We can’t just let people die. I’d never be able to live with myself. Those are my patients and I need to help them.” Margaret runs down the stairs and disappears. Peter says, “You’re all crazy! In a situation like this it’s every man for himself!” Questions: What is the ethical dilemma? What is yourvalue and ethical position related to the case? Include discussion of theory and principles on which your position is based. What are some other alternatives for resolving the problem? What are the possible consequences for those acceptable alternatives? How would you prioritize the acceptable alternatives? What is your plan of action? dq2 Health care providers are obligated to provide for those entrusted in their care. To what extent do they meet this obligation? How might their obligation to others conflict with their obligation to themselves? week1 Details: After reading the Topic 1 materials, complete the questionnaire titled, “My Nursing Ethic.” Using the reading and the questionnaire, write a paper of 750-1,000 words in which you describe your professional moral compass. As you write your paper, include the following: What personal, cultural, and spiritual values contribute to your worldview and philosophy of nursing? How do these values shape or influence your nursing practice? Define values, morals, and ethics in the context of your obligation to nursing practice. Explain how your personal values, philosophy, and worldview may conflict with your obligation to practice, creating an ethical dilemma. Reflect and share your own personal thoughts regarding the morals and ethical dilemmas you may face in the health care field. How do your personal views affect your behavior and your decision making? Do not be concerned with the use of ethical terminology for this paper. Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required. This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion. You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center. week 3 Details: Using the steps outlined in the decision-making models in your readings, select one ethical decision-making model and use the model to analyze the case provided. Case Scenario: A 6-year-old develops a high fever accompanied by violent vomiting and convulsions while at school. The child is rushed to a nearby hospital. The attending physician makes a diagnosis of meningitis and requests permission to initiate treatment from the parents. The child’s parents are divorced. The mother, who is not the biological parent of the child, has primary custody. She is a Christian Scientist who insists that no medical treatment be offered for religious reasons. The biological father, who resides in another state, is also contacted. He insists that treatment be given and seeks independent consultation from another physician. Assignment: In a formal, written paper of 800-1,200 words, answer the following questions: What is the ethical dilemma here? Describe the decision-making model you selected from your readings. How would you resolve this dilemma using the model? Include, at the end of your paper, a 200-word dialog in which you explain your decision to the family. (Remember to use language that the family would understand). A minimum of three references must be used. Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required. This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion. You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center. Only Word documents can be submitted to Turnitin. week 4 Details: This is a CLC assignment. The CLC group selection process will be outlined by the instructor. Refer to the “Collaborative Learning Community: Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma” resource for the dilemmas and resources that will be used for this multi-part assignment. In your CLC group, select a scenario from those listed in the assignment resource. As a group, write a formal paper of 750-1,000 words identifying important components of the topic. Include the following: A description of the topic and related ethical implications: (a) obligations to your profession and work as a nurse, (b) laws regarding this topic, and (c) stakeholders in this scenario. A summary of the impact on social values, morals, norms, and nursing practice. An explanation of how an ethical theory and/or ethical principle might be applied to address the chosen topic. Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required. This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion. You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
