Nursing Ethical Values

Introduction

Ethics is defined as, “a way of understanding and reflecting upon social morality that encompasses moral issues, norms, and practices.” (Kelly & Quesnelle, 2013., p 459). In today’s society nursing professionals plays many important roles and are looked upon as being leaders, advocates and carers among other titles and most of all nurses have an obligation to uphold the Ethical Standards set out by College of Nurses of Ontario’s (CNO), despite their beliefs or values.

Assessment

The initial reaction to this situation is shock and anger at the mother for selling her medication in order to buy food for her and her three children. However, I also feel saddened that she is in such a poor economic state that she would have to sell

Two nursing ethical values that are identified in this case study from the Professional Standards Learning Modules, Ethics according to (College of Nurses of Ontario. 2014.), are Ethical Nursing Care, as pertaining to the case study, one wishes to take care of the client’s well-being by trying to provide the client with medication and assuming the privacy and confidentiality of the client in regards to selling the medication for food. Secondly, Honesty, in being truthful to the client by letting her know that one is not able to dispense her any more drugs, and being truthful to the Nurse Practitioner regarding the reason why the client requires the

First speak with the Nurse Practitioner and arrange for a meeting with the client so that we can assist in finding solutions for her. Secondly, the client will be turned away, being upset and angry due to the fact we were not able to dispense the requested medication. It is my ethical obligation to discuss this situation with the Nurse Practitioner and from our discussion we can thus determine different solutions and see which other health care professionals that need to be involved. For example agencies that provide food that there will be no need to sell the medications. Further investigation and clarification is required, in regards to the food bank tightening their belts. This is important to know if in fact this information is accurate as it would be unfortunate if money was being used for shopping, partying, drinking or smoking. According to the Practice Standards –Medication from the (College of Nurses of Ontario. 2014). Medication dispensing tree there are a few steps that must be in place before dispensing can be done just to list a few are: “Have one assessed client factors?

Implement

As a registered practical nurse it is in the best interest of my professional accountability as well as the client’s best interest to get an understanding of the need. What are the medication for? Can the children/client do without? Food banks – how many did she access prior to deciding to sell the medications and if so how marketable