Pediatric Nurse Compare And Contrast Essay

Compare and Contrast Growing up, I was taught respect someone regardless of their age. As a pediatric nurse, one must respect their patient even if they are not legally viewed as an adult. Mike needs to be respected as a patient and not brushed off since he is considered a child. Going off the value of altruism, the nurse needs to consider if it is the best well being for Mike to discontinue treatment. By doing so, the nurse will also follow the ethical principal of beneficence by causing no harm to Mike. In a study of AML pediatric patients if was found, although increased in the past two decades, that only 31% of patients with relapse have a 5-year overall survival rate (Sander, Zimmerman, Dworzak, Fleischack, von Neuhoff, & Reinhardt, 2010). Mike has to decide if going through treatment is worth those odds. If it is deemed necessary, Mike can look into the Mature Minor Doctrine that would allow him to choose his own path of treatment without the consent of his parents.

Based off a study done by Ikeda, Collins, Alvaro, Marshall, & Garg it was found that although many pediatrics patients experienced side effects from the treatment of their cancer, their quality of life was satisfactory (2006). It was also found that patients with AML who had a poorer quality of life were easily able to adapt to a normal quality of life (Ikeda et al, 2006). Mike still has a chance of living a quality life with getting treatment. Also, since Mike is under the age of 18, according to the Age of Majority Act, his parent’s have the right to informed consent. Meaning, the parent’s have the right to decide which course of treatment Mike can purse. The nurse must accept that that parent’s have the autonomy to make the decision for Mike. However, before the parent’s make the decision to continue with treatment, they should have all the information given to them by the physicians and nurses based of the ethical principle of