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Ethical and Legal DilemmaKaitlyn Smits3172036Athabasca UniversityNurs 250Tutor: Marlyss ValiantAssignment #3February 25th, 2015IntroductionIn a nursing environment there are many encounters that can affect a nurse’s day. Ethical dilemma is one aspect that all nurses need to understand, especially how to process each circumstance to distinguish if any action need to be resolved. “Ethical decision making requires that the nurses understand the differences among problems, dilemmas, and quandaries” (Blais & Hayes, 2011 p.61). The case study that was chosen for this paper was the case of the nurse manager in charge of twenty-six nurses on her unit. This manager discovers her senior, most knowledgeable, and supportive nurse has been stealing from the other twenty-five nurses on the unit, but also from her patients. Not only is this senior nurse respected by her co-workers but also her patients, and her manager in charge. The nurse manager has many feelings towards this stealing nurse, and has to decide what her next steps should be towards this issue. She has to take into account many things such as code of ethics, ethical principles, and not include her emotions. In this paper, the discussion of the ethical steps that this manager will demonstrate will be seen through a table using the decision-making algorithm that was presented by Blais & Hayes (2011). Included in the table, will be the hardships of ethical issues, what actions and interventions need to be done all being from a nursing perspective. “In ethical dilemmas nurse managers make decisions, which generally satisfy only one party, in most cases the patient” (Zydziunaite & Suominen, 2014 p.161). Nursing Action/Ethical issuesNursing Perspectives/Interventions1. Identify the Ethical Dilemma-The ethical dilemma in this study case is: Should the nurse manager on the unit confront the nurse who has been stealing, because what she is doing is dishonest, but what if no one believes the manager? “An ethical problem is a matter or issue that is difficult to deal with, solve, or overcome and which stands in need of a solution” (Park, 2012 p.139).2.Gather, Analyze, & Interpret Information-The manager should gather all information; determine who is involved such as the patients, nurses, and managers. Examine what was exactly taken, and what evidence is apparent. “If we collect information on our ethical decisions, codes of ethics can be developed being based on our normative ethics, which can be more acceptable and evidence based” (Park, 2012 p.140). Once it’s all analyzed, more knowledge on what should be done will become apparent. 3. Personal Values-Understand that the patient’s belongings have been taken; we are supposed to protect our patients. Even if the nurse manager has personal anxiety due to “nobody believing me”, we have to take into account the values of the patients that need to be provided, and in this case, the patient was deceived by their nurse. “Often, nurse managers cannot act according to their own personal values and norms” (Zydziunaite & Suominen, 2014 p.150).4.Ethical Theories and Principles-Being truthful is an important step when it comes to this case, especially to the patients; including the principles of Beneficence. “Nurses are obligated to act in the best interest of the clients” (Blais & Hayes, 2011 p. 57). As well as justice towards the accused. Even if this nurse is knowledgeable, skillful, and supportive to her fellow nurses, she as not used her moral judgement in her decision-making. 5. Outcome/ Dilemma Resolution-The solution for this case is: Nurse should be written up, and sent home. An investigation should be done, interviewing the nurses and patients who things were stolen. An interdisciplinary team should be developed of managers of the unit including the manager that was in charge. All evidence should be discussed, to determine if this nurse should be fired or not. “The nurse takes appropriate action to safeguard individuals, families and communities when their health is endangered by a co-worker or any other person” (). Overall, if the nurse manager asked “did I do the right thing?” Yes. For the patient’s safety. 6.Evaluate the Action-Through this process, the ethical dilemma consisted of the nurse who had been stealing and the course of attention and discipline especially when it came to her stealing from her patients; code of ethics is extremely important, and should be shown by all nurses, and definitely founded this process. “The nurse demonstrates professional values such as respectfulness, responsiveness, compassion, trustworthiness, and integrity” ()ConclusionIn this paper, the main concept of ethical dilemmas was demonstrated through the case study of this nurse manager, who unfortunately had to use her judgement on what to do with a nurse she is in charge of who was accused of stealing. Stealing from her co-workers and patients. The main nursing perspective was that as a nurse, you take on the responsibility to being truthful, respectful, and trustworthy when it comes to your patients. This nurse who had been stealing did not distinguish any of these traits, and due to the code of ethics that all nurses are taught throughout school we should all know that these actions were wrong. This case study, did show how someone’s personal values could get in the way, based on emotions especially the feeling of being betrayed by a co-worker, but overall the main concern for all nurses is the patient safety. “The nurse takes appropriate action to support and guide co-workers to advance ethical conduct” (). Taking the appropriate steps with the help of the decision-making algorithm can help all involved to understand the problem, and resolution. ReferencesBlais, K. K., & Hayes, J.S. (2011). Professional nursing practice: Concepts and perspectives (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.International Council of Nurses. (2006). The ICN code of ethics for nurses. Retreived from . Park, E. (2012). An integrated ethical decision-making model for nurses. Nursing Ethics, 19(1), 139-159. doi:10.1177/0969733011413491Zydziunaite, V., & Suominen, T. (2014). Leadership styles of nurse managers in ethical dilemmas: reasons and consequences. Contemporary Nurse: A Journal For The Australian Nursing Profession, 48(2), 150-167. Doi:10.5172/conu.2014.48.2.150 ................
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