ANA Code of Ethics with the ethical principles
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Compare and contrast the ANA Code of Ethics with the ethical principles identified in Week 1 (Supports Student Learning Outcome #1). Identify any confusion or questions you have about a principle and/or ways it conflicts with what you have seen in practice. (Supports Student learning Outcome #1). Learning Activities The learning activities for this week include: Review p. 43 in Chapter 4 and read Chapter 5 on Standards of Care 12 on Scope of Practice in the Guido text, the ANA Code of Ethics, Practice Standards of Care. For many nurses, the American Nurses Association (ANA, 2015) Code of Ethics for Nurses is the single most useful document to consult when dealing with ethical problems in nursing practice. The Code offers standards for ethical behavior but does not provide the theoretical underpinnings of those standards. Discussion questions (Supports Student Learning Outcomes 1, 2). DISCUSSION 2 THIS IS THE ASSIGNMENT In preparation for this discussion, please identify one of the nine tenets in the Code that is not clear or that you find difficult to support in your practice setting. After review the accompanying interpretive statements in the text, analyze the ways in which the tenet reflects the ethical theories you reviewed in week one. AUTONOMY I ‘M CURRENTLY WORKING IN AN OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC MOST OF THE CLIENTS SOMETIMES REFUSED MEDICATION MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE NURSES, AND THE PATIENT ARE HURTING OTHERS Please include the following: Identify the tenet you have selected and why you find it unclear or difficult to support in your practice. Give an example of how the tenet might be applied in your practice setting. Explain the ways in which the tenet is supported by any or all of the theories you reviewed in week one. Explain how the tenet is compatible with any of the ethical theories. Explain why, in light of these theories, the meaning or usefulness of the tenet may be more apparent to you now. Alternatively, does it still seem congruent with your practice?
Sample Solution
The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics and the ethical principles identified in Week 1 both emphasize the importance of providing quality, safe healthcare services to all patients. The ANA Code of Ethics has nine core values that encompass the nurse’s obligation to protect patient rights, ensure informed decision-making, maintain confidentiality and privacy, promote professional development and practice standards, as well as provide leadership within the nursing profession (American Nurses Association 2019). These core values are based on moral principles such as autonomy, beneficence, justice, nonmaleficence and respect for persons.
In comparison, Week 1 outlines five ethical principles including respect for autonomy which requires nurses to involve patients in their care decisions; beneficence which encourages nurses to take actions that will improve a patient’s health; nonmaleficence which involves avoiding treatments or interventions with potential harm; justice which is about treating every patient fairly regardless of their background; fidelity which is being loyal to one’s professional roles. Although these two sets of ethical guidelines have slightly different focuses due to their separate origins—the fundamental message they convey remain largely consistent. They both serve as an important reminder for nurses to prioritize patient safety above all else while taking into consideration societal responsibilities not only towards individuals but also communities.
One area I find confusing about these ethical principles is when it comes to a conflict between upholding justice and making sure individual needs are met at the same time. For example if I am dealing with a situation where there are limited resources available so not everyone can be treated equally—how much weight should I give each value? This can be very difficult when trying make decisions because there may not always be clear-cut solutions or easy answers available. American Nurses Association 2019,”Code Of Ethics For Nursing”, https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/.