Ethics

Today, many nurses who enter the health care field will encounter many ethical problems on a daily basis in which a decision will involve two or more morally correct courses of action. The results of the decision will be an analysis based on their own moral values and in regards to the nursing code of ethics. This will help lead them to the correct decision making path. The nursing code of ethics clearly defines the primary goals, values and what is accepted on the job daily as a nurse. According to the Nursing world website, the code of ethics serves the following purposes: It is a succinct statement of the ethical obligations and duties of every individual who enter the nursing profession, it is the professions nonnegotiable ethical standard, and it is an expression of nursing’s own understanding of its commitment to society.

In the case study about a man who was admitted to the hospital with only back pain and was diagnosed with bone cancer, indicates that there is an ethical dilemma is present. The man’s family would not like him to be informed of his diagnosis because his friend died a horrible death from cancer. They family may think that by not informing him of his condition, the patient would be able to live his final days in peace and harmony. On the other hand, the patient has the right to know his diagnosis. With-holding information from the patient is not only committing harm but breaking the goal of a care whereas you should be committing beneficence which means bringing out good (Purtilo, 64).

In the Nursing Code of ethics, the second code states that the nurses primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group or community (Nursing advocacy). The nurse is put in a situation of conflict which arose from the family of not wanting to inform the patient of their condition. If the nurse would follow the ethical code m the nurses decision should would strive to resolve the conflict with safety of the patient as the most important thing in mind while also guarding the patients best interests and to preserve your own integrity.

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