Brief Example

A nurse, Sarah, works at a local hospital and has a reputation for being compassionate and caring. However, one day, Sarah is assigned to care for an elderly patient, Mr. Jones, who is known to be demanding and difficult. Sarah finds Mr. Jones’ constant requests and complaints to be irritating and begins to neglect his care. She skips some of his medications, delays his mealtimes, and brushes off his concerns. As a result, Mr. Jones’ condition deteriorates, and he develops complications that could have been prevented if he had received proper care.

Steps I Would Take if I Witnessed Unethical Behavior

If I witnessed Sarah’s neglectful behavior towards Mr. Jones, I would take the following steps:

1. Directly Confront Sarah: I would approach Sarah privately and express my concerns about her treatment of Mr. Jones. I would explain that her actions are unethical and could potentially harm Mr. Jones’ health.

2. Report Sarah’s Behavior: If Sarah does not respond to my direct confrontation, I would report her behavior to the appropriate authorities within the hospital. This could be the charge nurse, the nursing manager, or the hospital’s ethics committee.

3. Support Mr. Jones: I would continue to provide care to Mr. Jones and ensure that his needs are met. I would also document my observations of Sarah’s behavior to provide evidence in case it is needed for further action.

Steps I Would Take if Asked to Participate in Unethical Practice

If I was asked to participate in unethical behavior, such as neglectful care or withholding pain management, I would take the following steps:

1. Refuse to Participate: I would firmly refuse to participate in any unethical practice. I would explain that my ethical obligations as a healthcare professional require me to provide the best possible care to my patients, and that participating in unethical behavior would violate those obligations.

2. Report the Request: I would report the request to participate in unethical behavior to my supervisor or another appropriate authority. I would provide as much detail as possible about the request and the person who made it.

3. Seek Support: If I am facing pressure or retaliation for refusing to participate in unethical behavior, I would seek support from my colleagues, professional organizations, or legal counsel.

How an Organization’s Strategic Plan Can Address Unethical Behaviors

An organization’s strategic plan can address unethical behaviors by incorporating the following elements:

1. Clear Code of Ethics: The organization should have a clear and comprehensive code of ethics that outlines the ethical standards expected of all employees. The code should be easily accessible to all employees and should be regularly reviewed and updated.

2. Ethics Training and Education: The organization should provide regular ethics training and education to all employees. This training should cover topics such as identifying unethical behavior, reporting unethical behavior, and resolving ethical dilemmas.

3. Open Communication and Reporting Systems: The organization should create an environment where employees feel comfortable reporting unethical behavior without fear of reprisal. This may involve establishing anonymous reporting systems or providing confidential reporting channels.

4. Disciplinary Procedures: The organization should have clear and consistent disciplinary procedures for addressing unethical behavior. These procedures should be applied fairly and impartially to all employees.

5. Continuous Monitoring and Evaluation: The organization should continuously monitor and evaluate its efforts to prevent and address unethical behavior. This may involve conducting periodic surveys, reviewing employee complaints, and analyzing data on disciplinary actions.