Introduction
Professional nurses encounter various conditions within their roles and responsibilities in healthcare settings. In some cases, they have to work with patients whose cultural values and beliefs are diverse, which can create dilemmas in their daily tasks. In such situations, they must apply moral principles to make the best decision for both parties’ interests.
Ethical principles guide care providers’ practices and act as social contracts between them and the general public (Guido, 2020). It promotes nurses’ commitment to providing safe, high-quality, evidence-based care. This essay illustrates my application of moral values in the clinical environment.
Personal Application of Nursing Ethics
Diagnosis Disclosure
While working on my evening shift, I was attending to a patient who was diagnosed a week ago with a sexually transmitted infection. During the conversation, I realized he was married, but his partner was unaware of his medical condition. He was afraid that disclosing the diagnosis would break their marriage. I advised him that he is putting his wife at risk if she contracts the infection and is not treated.
As a qualified nurse, I was to protect the patient’s autonomy, counsel him on disclosing the information to the companion, and have her tested and treated if infected. The client had the right to decide whether to inform his wife so they could obtain the required medical care. The moral code of autonomy guards the client’s interests by ensuring they make their own choices.
The care attendants have the duty to provide all necessary data to help them make informed decisions. They will use the facts to decide on the medication and care options they want. Other aspects of autonomy include the right to health and the right to personal information they wish to share with others (Guido, 2020). When healthcare professionals share data without consent, they have been deprived of their autonomy rights.
Insufficient Health Insurance Coverage
During one of my routine management tasks at my place of work, there was a patient who required help because he had stomach complications. While I was attending to him, he explained that he did not have the insurance to cover the management he received. As a professional nurse, I had a duty to treat him the same way I would treat those who could cover their actions with the same medical condition.
Based on the ethical principle of justice, it ensures that all medical decisions and considerations are provided to patients with equality. It covers the fairness of treatment options and the distribution of limited healthcare-related resources (Pozgar, 2020). Nurses must deliver equal and best services for all their clients without discrimination. The justice principle promotes giving everyone the same opportunities to access healthcare services. For specialized attendees, services should be the same for everyone, regardless of social class, income, religion, or educational level.
Conclusion
In conclusion, all healthcare professionals must adhere to moral values in the clinical setting. It helps healthcare providers make the best decisions, providing high-quality services and supporting patients and their families mentally, emotionally, and physically. For example, justice ensures that those seeking medical help receive just and impartial care, making them feel valued. Also, patients are given autonomy to make informed decisions based on their values and beliefs regarding their health, which helps build trust between nurses and individuals seeking medical attention.
References
Guido, G. W. (2020). Legal and ethical issues in nursing (7th ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN:9780134701233.
Pozgar, G. D. (2020). Legal and ethical issues for health professionals (5th ed.). Jones and Bartlett. ISBN: 9781284144185.