Ethics in Nursing

Ethical dilemmas arise in nursing as an every day occurrence that one must overcome by each individual patient situation. The American Nurses Association states that nurses "practice with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and uniqueness of every individual, unrestricted by considerations of of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems" (Applied Ethics in Nursing; Lachman, Vicki ;Pages: 326 ;Publisher: Springer Publishing Company; Location: New York, NY, USA Date Published: 11/2005). The nursing code of ethics may affect treatment, decision making, quality of care, safety, and the nurse's personal beliefs. While dealing with an ethical issue, a nurse must remain patient confidentiality and professionalism. The public expects nurses to give them and their families a competent and honest level of service. The nursing profession consists of several different roles and values one must manage on a patient to patient basis. The nursing code of ethics has the potential to affect patient treatment. Pregnant patients with acute illnesses such as appendicitis require pain medications and anesthesia during surgery. Appendicitis cannot be untreated, so in this situation, one may choose not to take pain medication pre or post surgery for safety of the baby, but does not have the same option during surgery where anesthesia is a must. On the other hand, a pregnant woman may come into the Emergency Room with a complaint of a headache or back pain and is requesting pain medications. This arises the ethical issue of what to give the patient for the pain she is experiencing. Tylenol which "has no known harmful effects during pregnancy when taken according to package directions" (http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/taking-medicine-during-pregnancy) can be given. What does one do in the case that Tylenol does not take away the patient's headache or back pain and the patient is writhing in pain. If the nurse has an order to give...