An RN is assigned to care for a client with a history of a traumatic brain injur

Question

An RN is assigned to care for a client with a history of a traumatic brain injury, who was readmitted to the hospital from a long-term care setting with pneumonia. The RN notes this hospital admission is the fourth one this year. The RN self-reflects: “This client keeps coming back to the unit because he is unable to cough and clear his airway. There are frequently skin breakdown issues, and he seems frailer to me. The client is immobile and non-verbal; he can only look in the direction I position him and listen to music or the television. Nobody visits. There is no quality of life in this situation. I am struggling with this assignment; I feel like I should do the minimum in this room and allocate my time this shift to help the other client who has a greater chance at quality of life.” Initial Discussion Post: Address the following: Describe two (2) ethical principles the RN must consider when caring for the client in this scenario. Refer to the 2015 American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics to guide the actions of the RN in this situation. Provide a rationale that goes beyond your personal opinion.

Explanation / Answer

Ethical principles to consider in this case as the nurse:

Non-maleficence: This is the ethical principle that requires the nurse to do no harm to the patient. For instance in this case neglecting this patient will be a form of non-maleficence as the nurse will be doing harm.

Just in the same line the American Nurses Association code of ethics for nurses provision 1 which states that the nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person and provision 3 which states that the nurse promotes, advocates for, and protects the rights, health, and safety of the patient.

Thus in reference to the above provision requirements for the nursing care code of ethics the nurse in this case has to fulfill the two provisions by doing no harm.

Beneficence: This is the principle that requires the caring nurse to always do good to their patients regardless of their state. The nurse has no reason to abandon this patient and if she does so it amounts to ethical violation

Provision 4 of the American Nurses Association code of ethic states that he nurse has authority, accountability and responsibility for nursing practice; makes decisions; and takes action consistent with the obligation to provide optimal patient care while provision 2 states that the nurse's primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, community, or population. Therefore the nurse is indebted to act according to this ethical principle and in fulfillment of the American Nurses code of ethics.

Therefore as discussed based on the two ethical principles and the provisions of the American Nurses code of ethics the nurse in this case has no option but to give the best care to the patient in the case scenario without any excuses.

Reference:

Ulrich, C. M., Taylor, C., Soeken, K., O'Donnell, P., Farrar, A., Danis, M., & Grady, C.   (November 01, 2010). Everyday ethics: ethical issues and stress in nursing practice.     Journal of Advanced Nursing, 66, 11, 2510-2519.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse A
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.