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Importance of nursing ethics
As nurses face ethical dilemmas in their everyday work, it is important to have a framework for making ethical decisions
Ethical principles that nurses need to adhere to
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The following is a critique of an article written by Christel Roberts and Charlotte B. Thorup entitled, “Care as a Matter of Courage: Vulnerability, Suffering and Ethical Formation in Nursing Care.” The article was published in 2012 and featured in the Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. The article records details of a qualitative research study on nurses’ life experiences with vulnerability and suffering and how they perceive this phenomenon impacts nursing care. This study was developed in 2005 and conducted by researchers in Sweden, Finland, and Denmark in 2007 (Roberts & Thorup, 2012).
Research Purpose/Aim
The research purpose was clearly stated in the article. The primary aim of the research was to discover the link between nurses’ own vulnerability and suffering, its influence on ethical formation, and its effect on courage in nursing care of vulnerable and suffering patients (Roberts & Thorup, 2012). This study is highly significant to nursing as it encourages nurses to develop more self-awareness and enables them to become more ethically sensitive in their nursing care (Roberts & Thorup, 2012).
Conceptual/Theoretical Framework
While this study does not directly identify a conceptual or theoretical framework, it could be implied based on the inclusion of background nursing research literature in which concept analysis and various themes were discussed in conducting similar qualitative studies. The concepts or themes surrounding this study include vulnerability and suffering, introduction and interaction with the patient, moral responsibility, as well as feelings and sensitivity (Roberts & Thorup, 2012). Conceptual models are less structured than theories and broadly demonstrate concepts of interrelated phenomena (Be...
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...s in relationship to courage and providing care (Roberts & Thorup, 2012).
Conclusion
In the future, more care could be taken in discussing the research framework and design; however, overall, this was a well-designed, qualitative research study. Despite a few potential limitations, the study findings were reasonable, consistent with one another, and compatible with similar studies, leaving the research consumer satisfied with the soundness of the study.
References
Beck, C.T., & Polit, D.F. (2014). Essentials of nursing research: Appraising evidence for nursing practice. (8th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Roberts, C., & Thorup, C.B. (2012). Care as a matter of courage: Vulnerability, suffering and ethical formation in nursing care. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 26, 427-435. doi: 10.1111/j.1461-6712.2011.0094
The first provision of the American Nurses Association’s (ANA) “Code of Ethics” states, “ The nurse, in all professional relationships, practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth and uniqueness of every individual, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems.” The second provision states, “The nurse’s primary commitment is the patient, whether the patient is an individual, family, group, or community” (Fowler, 2010). As nurses we need to respect the autonomy and allow for the patient to express their choices and concerns. We also need to provide them with support by giving them knowledge and understanding so they
It reflects trust, intimacy, and responsibility, which are elements essential to any nursing relationship. It is the core of nursing. In the article, “Dimensions of Caring: A Qualitative Analysis of Nurses’ Stories”, an analysis was done on over two hundred stories submitted by nurses around the world, illustrating the point that the practice of nursing encompasses much more than just technical skills. In one of the stories, a nurse stood by the side of a young mother grieving the loss of her baby with nobody else to turn to. This nurse accompanied the 19 year old mother to the cemetery the day after the baby’s death, New Year’s Eve, to bury her baby that had been born at just 22 weeks gestation. She bought her a book on grieving and loss and supported the woman during that difficult time. This nurse did not have to do that—she did not have to go above and beyond for this stranger. But she did. She felt empathy and compassion for this woman and she acted on that. That is what nursing is about, going above and beyond, making emotional investments into the lives of other people. The significance of the actions of this nurse cannot be overstated. We will never know the full impact that this nurse made on that young woman’s life; perhaps she saved her life, or changed the direction of it for the
Caring is the “central theme and core of nursing caring tapestry” (Otterbein University, 2009, p. 2). When developing caring characteristics as a nurse and caring interventions, this in return helps
Nursing is the core of care. The essential is not communication via words or language, but care that is imparted by sincere interest is interdenominational and transcends culture, language, and treatments. Relational consciousness is a significant component of a compassionate nursing practice. Doane, & Varcoe, (2015) state that relational awareness encompasses recognition that individuals are situated and constituted through cultural, interpersonal, social, political and emotional processes. Operating from the center of which we are, with insight and awareness is essential to phenomenological nursing practice. I will be exploring my personal values and beliefs
Every person’s needs must be recognized, respected, and filled if he or she must attain wholeness. The environment must attuned to that wholeness for healing to occur. Healing must be total or holistic if health must be restored or maintained. And a nurse-patient relationship is the very foundation of nursing (Conway et al 2011; Johnson, 2011). The Theory recognizes a person’s needs above all. It sets up the conducive environment to healing. It addresses and works on the restoration and maintenance of total health rather than only specific parts or aspect of the patient’s body or personality. And these are possible only through a positive healing relationship between the patient and the nurse (Conway et al, Johnson).
Gallagher, Ann. "Moral Distress and Moral Courage in Everyday Nursing Practice." 21 March 2010. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. 1 March 2014 .
Still, the previous advantages discussed should influence the nurse to improve in identifying patient vulnerability. This is evident by this patient where I utilized my interpersonal skills to communicate to this patient so that he/she is aware that he/she is not alone in this journey. Nurses need to utilize models and theories to guide nursing practice. For instance, McCormack’s framework focuses on patient-centered care which influences nurses to understand the patient as a whole and their values (Abley, 2012, p. 42). Being able to identify values will give nurses and myself a better comprehension about the patients resulting in worthiness and belonging expressed. As a result, informing nurses about patient’s subjective vulnerability because a trust and understanding relationship is established. This is supported in a clinical experience where a patient “felt understood and opened up for further interactions based on trust” through an honest, supportive relationship with a nurse (Gjengedal, 2013, p. 134). Nurses should provide patient-focused provision of service, and assist this patient in overcoming his/her obstacle as a way of encouragement. Furthermore, Sellman (2005) explains how encouragement may compromise human flourish (p. 7), it is dependent on the situation and it cannot be assumed all encouragement will lead to harm. This informs nurses to be aware of the consequences that prevent the
Described below is a critical appraisal of a qualitative article by Lisa Booth using the frame-work suggested by Ryan, Coughlan and Cronin 2007 to establish its believability, robustness, credibility and integrity (Ryan, Coughlan & Cronin, 2007).
“Vulnerability is at the core, the heart, the center, of meaningful human experiences” (Brown, 2014). Vulnerability can be regarded as a constant human experience that can be affected by physical, social and psychological dimensions (Scanlon & Lee, 2006; Malone, 2000) Deconstructing the concept of vulnerability and how it relates to client care is imperative for nurses due to their dynamic role in health care (Gjengedal et al.2013). In this paper I will provide a theoretical overview of the nursing concept vulnerability. I will explore how a thorough understanding of vulnerability informs the nursing concept of vulnerability and informs the nursing practice and the nursing profession. I will identify the gaps in the nursing
3rd ed. of the book. St. Louis: Mosby & Co. McCance, T.V., McKenna, H. P., & Boore, J. R. P. (1999). Caring: Theoretical perspectives of relevance to nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 30, 1388 – 1395.
The concept of person needs to be explored to go into further depth with the remaining concepts of the metaparadigm of nursing. Person refers to the person undergoing nursing care which includes individuals, families, groups, and communities (MacIntyre & McDonald, 2014, p.63). It is evident that each person may be unique with different biological, psychological, social, and spiritual depth (Thorne, 2010, p.66). Therefore, it is necessary for nurses to realize that each person at the centre of any nursing care will experience different feelings in regards to their body as a whole. The theorist, Parse, defines the concept of person as being “linked to an unfolding process, the relating of value priorities, meaning, and quality of life” (Wu, 2008, p.6). Also those human beings are free and choose in situations that arise from personal experience and becoming with the universe (Thorne, 2010, p.71). The nurses’ role in regards to this theory is to act encourage individuals in their human becoming process. Wu (2008) looks at the p...
“Nursing encompasses an art, a humanistic orientation, a feeling for the value of the individual, and an intuitive sense of ethics, and of the appropriateness of action taken’, said Myrtle Aydelott (Hammarskjold, 2000). Nurses have our patients trust with their lives every day. These patients have needs that must be understood and met, whether; physical, psychological, or emotional. Nurses must provide nonjudgmental care to those in need, regardless of culture, religion, lifestyle choices, financial status, or hues of the human race. To quote Jean Watson, nursing theorist, “I am here to care for others, regardless of where they came from” (Hammarskjold, 2000). I believe that the nursing profession chose me because I have always had a calling to help those in need. Nursing
Ethics is defined as moral principles that govern a persons or a group’s behavior, ethical principles apply to both personal and professional relationships (Webster, 2015). The field of nursing is a profession that has been highly regarded and respected in society. Most nurses enter the profession in order to utilize their clinical skills to help others in their time of need. Those in failing health rely on nurses to care for them in their most vulnerable states, and expect a level of compassion and humanity while receiving care. Nurses have an ethical responsibility to their patients, clients, and their community. Compassion, empathy, and integrity are staple characteristics that nurses possess that allow them to successfully perform their
focused on the key qualitative research methods. For each article review, a brief description, guided by Myers (2013), and a critique, guided Pratt (2009), is provided. A summary of the five articles identifying the research method, data collection technique, data analysis approach and critique is provided in Table 1. The narrative review of each article coupled with figures and tables to organize and visualize thoughts (Pratt, 2009) follows the summary table.
Theory development and research have provided a framework and body of knowledge for nursing to maintain autonomy and improve quality of care. As early as the 1800s, nursing and non-nursing theorists had developed theories and models which are continually applied to nursing practice (KEEP OR GET RID OF?). Nursing theorist Imogene King developed the theory of goal attainment which focused on interacting systems that affected a person’s ability to attain goals (Frey, Sieloff, & Norris, 2002). Psychologist Laurence Kohlberg created the theory of stages of moral development which places moral reasoning and ethical behavior into six identifiable stages based on a person’s response to moral dilemmas (Kohlberg, 1984). Although King and Kohlberg created theories in different fields, nurses can utilize both to improve patient care. The purpose of this paper is to analyze both theories based on major precepts, usefulness, and application to nursing practice.