NURS 521 Assignment Contemporary Issue Position
NURS 521 Assignment Contemporary Issue Position
NURS 521 Assignment Contemporary Issue Position
Choose a case from the AMA Journal of Ethics Case Index and take a position. For this assignment you will evaluate the ethical arguments for or against the issue. Identify the potential legal arguments (consider current federal guidelines), indicate any potential professional code conflicts you foresee, and support your position with an explanation of your own ethical/moral foundation.
In your 2-3 page paper:
Identify the issue and state your ethical position.
How might this scenario play out or impact you in your role as a nurse practitioner?
Defend your position with legal, ethical, and professional evidence.
As part of your position, propose strategies and solutions for addressing the issues.
What other ethical issues does this case bring to light, if any?
Support your position with at least one scholarly source (it may be your text). Be sure to cite the article you choose, use APA format, and include a title page and reference page.
The ISSUES-Concept from McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada is an example of ethical decision making framework.[6] It is applicable at personal, professional and organisational levels both between and within groups. Values permeate everything we do in healthcare and sometimes these values come into conflict. When they do, it is imperative to recognise that one is experiencing an ethical dilemma. Ethical conflicts are usually best resolved through direct engagement with the parties involved. Often there will not be an answer that pleases everyone and so it is our responsibility to ensure that our processes for decision-making are fair and legitimate. This tool is designed to help you think through difficult decisions when ethics is a factor and develop justifiable reasons for your choices in a rigorous, transparent and fair manner.[6]
This process is captured in the acronym ISSUES
- Identify issue and decision-making process
- Study the facts
- Select reasonable options
- Understand values & duties
- Evaluate & justify options
- Sustain and review the plan
It may be useful to imagine that rigorous ethical decision-making is like building a house. When we encounter ethical dilemmas our first instinct may be to find a quick fix. However, our desire for resolution may cause us to misidentify the key issues or overlook important facts, values or the opinions of other stakeholders. Ethical decision making starts with a strong foundation, based on a clear understanding of the nature of the problem and all relevant facts and perspectives, before deciding on options, weighing those options, and making the decision. See figure 3 on page 11.