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Ethical Issues Relevant To a DNP-Prepared Nurse

  • Post category:Nursing
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Post an explanation of at least two significant ethical issues relevant to the DNP-prepared nurse. Then explain how these issues might compare to the types of issues you have encountered in your practice. Be specific and provide examples.

Ethical Issues Relevant To a DNP-Prepared Nurse

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Ethical Issues Relevant To a DNP-Prepared Nurse

All healthcare providers are required to practice within some moral principles to improve patient experience and outcomes. DNP-prepared nurses are similarly needed to observe ethical principles in nursing practice (Maryville University, 2022). As a result, DNP-prepared nurses often experience several ethical issues while in practice. Some of the ethical issues include the principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fairness, among others (Maryville University, 2022). DNP-prepared nurses are required to operate within the confinement of the above ethical issues.

According to Duquesne University (2020), ethical issues/dilemmas occur when choices need to be made, the answer is not clear, and options are not ideal. Some of the ethical dilemmas DNP-prepared nurses might find themselves in include honesty versus withholding information, science versus spirituality, and autonomy versus beneficence. These ethical issues can lead to serious misunderstandings or problems between the patient/family and nurses. The Code of Ethics for Nurses intends to shape nurses’ behaviors when attending to patients (Haddad & Geiger, 2021). It provides various provisions that inform nursing practice.

An ideal example of an ethical issue in the workplace includes the conflict between beneficence and autonomy. When a patient refuses the correct treatment regimen and proposes an option that is deemed non-beneficial. The healthcare provider becomes at a crossroads wondering whether to follow autonomy or beneficence. According to Scott (2017), nurses’ obligations to respect autonomous choices co-exist with requirements to deliver safe, evidence-based care. When such happens dilemma happens, nurses must be smart enough to identify further options to try to solve the issue legally (Scott, 2017). Therefore, DNP-prepared nurses must be aware of the ethical issues and understand how to navigate related problems.

References

Duquesne University. (2020). Ethical Issues in Nursing: Explanations & Solutions. https://onlinenursing.duq.edu/blog/ethical-issues-in-nursing/

Haddad, L., & Geiger, R. (2021). Nursing Ethical Considerations. StatPearls [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526054/

Maryville University. (2022). Nursing Ethics: Ethical Decision-Making for Nurse Leaders. https://online.maryville.edu/blog/nursing-ethics/

Scott, P. A. (2017). Key concepts and issues in nursing ethics. Springer.