An organizational environment that would facilitate the ethical practice of nurses caring for chronically ill patients would be characterized by the following:

• A strong commitment to patient autonomy: The organization should value and respect the right of patients to make their own decisions about their care, even if those decisions are different from what the healthcare team might recommend.
• A culture of collaboration: Nurses should work closely with other members of the healthcare team, including physicians, pharmacists, social workers, and dietitians, to develop and implement comprehensive care plans for their patients.
• A focus on quality of life: The organization should recognize that the goal of caring for chronically ill patients is not only to prolong life, but also to improve the quality of life. Nurses should work with their patients to identify their goals of care and develop plans to achieve those goals.
• Adequate resources and support: Nurses should have the resources and support they need to provide high-quality care to their patients. This includes having a manageable patient load, access to the necessary equipment and supplies, and opportunities for professional development.

One patient right that is often not fully implemented in the patient care environment is the right to informed consent. This right means that patients have the right to be informed about all of their treatment options, including the risks and benefits of each option, before making a decision about their care.

There are a number of reasons why the right to informed consent is not always fully implemented. One reason is that healthcare professionals may be busy or may not have enough time to fully explain all of the treatment options to their patients. Another reason is that patients may be overwhelmed by the information or may not understand the technical language that is used.

There are a number of strategies that can help ensure that the right to informed consent is supported within the patient care environment. One strategy is to provide patients with written materials about their treatment options. This can help patients to review the information at their own pace and to ask questions if they have any. Another strategy is to use decision aids. Decision aids are tools that can help patients to understand their treatment options and to make decisions about their care.

Registered nurses can play an important role in protecting patient rights. They can do this by:

• Educating patients about their rights: Nurses can educate patients about their rights by providing them with written materials and by answering their questions.
• Advocating for patients’ rights: Nurses can advocate for patients’ rights by speaking up on their behalf when their rights are being violated.
• Reporting violations of patients’ rights: Nurses have a responsibility to report violations of patients’ rights to their supervisor or to the appropriate authorities.

Here are some specific strategies that registered nurses can use to help ensure that the right to informed consent is supported within the patient care environment:

• Take the time to explain all of the treatment options to patients: Nurses should take the time to explain all of the treatment options to patients in a way that is easy to understand. This includes explaining the risks and benefits of each option, as well as the alternative options.
• Use decision aids: Nurses can use decision aids to help patients to understand their treatment options and to make decisions about their care. Decision aids are available for a variety of medical conditions.
• Encourage patients to ask questions: Nurses should encourage patients to ask questions about their treatment options. They should be patient and answer questions in a way that is easy to understand.
• Respect patients’ decisions: Nurses should respect patients’ decisions about their care, even if they don’t agree with those decisions.

By following these strategies, registered nurses can help to ensure that the right to informed consent is supported within the patient care environment. This will help to ensure that patients are able to make informed decisions about their care and that their rights are respected.

Example:

A patient is diagnosed with cancer. The patient has two treatment options: surgery or radiation therapy. The patient is not sure which option to choose. The nurse takes the time to explain both options to the patient and to answer the patient’s questions. The nurse also provides the patient with a decision aid to help the patient make a decision.

The patient ultimately decides to have radiation therapy. The nurse respects the patient’s decision and helps the patient to develop a treatment plan.

In this example, the nurse is respecting the patient’s right to informed consent by providing the patient with information about the treatment options and by helping the patient to make a decision. The nurse is also advocating for the patient’s right to choose the treatment option that is best for them.