Ethics Sample Case Study Health Assessment and Ethical Evaluation
Health Assessment and Ethical Evaluation Case Study
Clinicians face ethical and professional dilemmas when they manage their clients who cannot financially afford their care. Actions taken during these situations determine patient’s satisfaction and care quality. Determinants of such actions include the organization’s billing policies, admission policies, and hospital organization among other factors. The case presented is of a young man, 27 years, who requires emergency attention for acute flare-ups of his Crohn’s disease.
However, he is concerned about the costs of the present care because he has not been able to afford the cost of previous prescription medications. The nurse leader has a responsibility to oversee the overall process of nursing care in the department and make critical decisions (Kiwanuka et al., 2020). This patient requires urgent care and my decisions as an advanced nurse practitioner are essential.
The health assessment information required for the diagnosis of this patient includes a subjective assessment of his symptoms and an objective analysis of the signs. Evaluation of symptoms such as pain, rectal bleeding, and vomiting (Burg & Riccoboni, 2017) should be elicited from the patient’s history. Assessment of his sociocultural background would be necessary but after the stabilization of the patient.
An objective analysis of the patient such as vital signs especially temperature and blood pressure, bowel movements, and focused abdominal exam is also required. Investigation of the patient’s electrolytes and electrocardiography would be vital in the emergency setting. Management of pain and administration of corticosteroids would be highly indicated in the patient.
The remaining issues about billing and costs for the care provided would be discussed when the patient is stable and cannot be considered an emergency case. In managing the case, the intervening nurse should consider the need to make a referral for further affordable care, health promotion and patient education, and understanding of the organization’s billing regulations. To promote ethical justice to the patient, consultation with the organization administration may be effective in this case. As Milliken (2018) observe, nurses have an ethical responsibility to be advocates for the patient. To promote affordable care, I would advise the patient about healthcare insurance and assurance policies that would take care of his medical needs at affordable costs.
References
- Burg, M. D., & Riccoboni, S. T. (2017). Management of inflammatory bowel disease flares in the emergency department. Emergency Medicine Practice, 19(11), 1–20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29048149
- Kiwanuka, F., Nanyonga, R. C., Sak-Dankosky, N., Muwanguzi, P. A., & Kvist, T. (2020). Nursing leadership styles and their impact on intensive care unit quality measures: An integrative review. Journal of Nursing Management. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13151
- Milliken, A. (2018). Ethical Awareness: What It Is and Why It Matters. The Online Journal of Issues, 23(1), Manuscript 1. https://doi.org/10.3912/OJIN.Vol23No01Man01