Ethical issues in nursing practice

Full Answer Section

• Pain management: Oncology patients often experience severe pain. Nurses play a vital role in managing pain and helping patients to achieve a comfortable quality of life. However, nurses must also be aware of the potential for addiction and other risks associated with pain medications.
• Palliative care: Palliative care is focused on providing comfort and support to patients with life-limiting illnesses. Oncology nurses may play a role in palliative care, and they should be familiar with the ethical issues involved in this type of care.

Consent and patient privacy

Oncology nurses must obtain informed consent from patients before performing any procedures or treatments. This means that the patient must have a good understanding of the procedure or treatment, including the risks and benefits, and has made a voluntary decision to consent.

Oncology nurses also have a responsibility to protect patient privacy. This means keeping patient information confidential and only sharing it with other healthcare professionals or with the patient's consent.

Medication errors

Medication errors can be a serious problem in any healthcare setting, but they can be especially dangerous in oncology, where patients are often taking complex and powerful medications.

Oncology nurses can reduce the risk of medication errors by following safety protocols and by double-checking all medications before administering them.

Strategies for working with ethical issues

Oncology nurses can develop a number of strategies for working with ethical issues. Some of these strategies include:

• Education: Oncology nurses should be educated about the legal and ethical issues that they may face in their practice. This education can be provided through formal training programs or through informal discussions with colleagues.
• Communication: It is important for oncology nurses to communicate effectively with patients and families about ethical issues. This includes listening to their concerns and providing them with information and support.
• Collaboration: Oncology nurses may need to collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians, social workers, and chaplains, to address ethical issues.
• Ethics committees: Many hospitals have ethics committees that can provide guidance and support to healthcare professionals facing ethical dilemmas.

Conclusion

Oncology nurses face a number of legal and ethical issues in their practice. By being aware of these issues and by developing strategies for working with them, oncology nurses can provide high-quality, ethical care to their patients.

Sample Answer

End-of-life care

Oncology nurses often play a key role in caring for patients at the end of their lives. This can raise a number of ethical issues, such as:

• Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders: Oncology nurses may be involved in discussions with patients and families about DNR orders. It is important for nurses to understand the legal and ethical implications of DNR orders, and to ensure that patients' wishes are respected.