A Ethical Dilemma that was Shaped or Influenced by the Application of Nursing Research - Assignment Example

A Critique of “Ethics: The Power of One” A Critique of “Ethics: The Power of One” Nurses are encountered withethical dilemmas in their daily practice and are required to make decisions based on available research, issues learnt in school and their own personal beliefs. According to the article, the ethical dilemma that most nurses are faced with in their practice is to know ‘what should be done’ in particular situations (Parker, 2007). This is basically a patient care dilemma which is at the heart of many regular dilemmas in the nursing practice.

A nurse may be faced with a situation like being ordered to discharge a patient who is homeless, and who has been hospitalized for pneumonia (Parker, 2007). Ethical dilemmas can also arise when a patient’s autonomy is not respected. This is to do with the kind of treatment the patient wants, including refusal to treatment and euthanasia (Stevens, 2006). The article states that such ethical dilemmas can be solved if the nurses have better knowledge and skills, communication skills, authority and a proper knowledge of ethical principles guiding the nursing practice (Parker, 2007).

Ethical dilemmas are difficult to solve. A single decision by the nurse may not please everybody concerned, including hospital management and the patient’s guardians and relatives. Although it is important to have the basic ethical principles and knowledge from research, it is still very difficult to make a decision in an ethical dilemma.Credentialing and statutory regulations are significant components of nursing practice. Without these important elements the nursing profession lacks authority to ensure protection of interests of the public (Bandman & Bandman, 2002).

Licensing is meant to protect the public from unprofessional and unsafe medical practitioners while credentialing helps to verify the qualifications of medical practitioners, including nurses.ReferenceArticle link: http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/Columns/Ethics/Power.htmlAmerican Nurses Association. (2001). Code for nurses with interpretive statements. Washington, DC: Author.Bandman, E. & Bandman, B. (2002). Nursing Ethics Through the Life Span. (4th ed.).

Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.Parker, F., (Nov. 26, 2007) Ethics Column: "The Power of One" OJIN: Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. Vol. 13, No. 1.Stevens, K. R., Jr. (2006). “Emotional and psychological Effects of Physician Assisted Euthanasia on Participating Physicians.” Issues in Law and Medicine, 21, 187-200.