Choose a patient-care situation in which the RN should intervene and advocate for the patient. An example of such a situation might be when a patient has not been given complete informed consent.
Describe the clinical situation concisely and descriptively. It can be an actual situation or a hypothetical one.
Apply the Bioethical Decision Making Model to the specific clinical ethical situation that you choose. Address each section of the model. Conclude with a discussion of nursing advocacy in the clinical setting and the nurse’s role as a patient advocate.
Full Answer Section
Bioethical Decision Making Model
The Bioethical Decision Making Model is a four-step process that can be used to resolve ethical dilemmas in healthcare. The four steps are:
- Identify the ethical dilemma. The ethical dilemma in this case is whether or not to insert the Foley catheter without the patient's informed consent.
- Gather relevant information. The nurse needs to gather information about the patient's medical condition, his cognitive abilities, and his son's wishes.
- Consider the ethical principles involved. The ethical principles involved in this case include autonomy, beneficence, and non-maleficence. Autonomy is the right of patients to make their own decisions about their healthcare. Beneficence is the obligation to do what is in the patient's best interests. Non-maleficence is the obligation to avoid harming the patient.
- Make a decision. The nurse needs to weigh the ethical principles involved and make a decision about what is in the patient's best interests.
Application of the Bioethical Decision Making Model to the Patient-Care Situation
- Identify the ethical dilemma. The ethical dilemma in this case is whether or not to insert the Foley catheter without the patient's informed consent.
- Gather relevant information. The patient has dementia and is not oriented to time or place. He is unable to understand the procedure. The patient's son is his medical decision-maker and has agreed to the procedure.
- Consider the ethical principles involved. Autonomy is the right of patients to make their own decisions about their healthcare. Beneficence is the obligation to do what is in the patient's best interests. Non-maleficence is the obligation to avoid harming the patient.
- Make a decision. The nurse needs to weigh the ethical principles involved and make a decision about what is in the patient's best interests.
In this case, the nurse decides not to insert the Foley catheter without the patient's informed consent. The patient has a right to make his own decisions about his healthcare, even if he is not able to understand the procedure. The nurse also considers the fact that the patient is vulnerable and could be easily harmed if the catheter is inserted without his consent.
Nursing Advocacy in the Clinical Setting
Nursing advocacy is the process of representing and promoting the best interests of patients. Nurses are advocates for their patients in a variety of ways, including:
- Educating patients about their healthcare options
- Helping patients to make informed decisions about their care
- Communicating with patients' healthcare providers
- Ensuring that patients' rights are respected
The Nurse's Role as a Patient Advocate
The nurse's role as a patient advocate is to represent and promote the best interests of patients. Nurses can advocate for their patients in a variety of ways, including:
- Protecting patients' rights. Nurses have a responsibility to protect patients' rights, including the right to informed consent, the right to privacy, and the right to refuse treatment.
- Communicating with patients' healthcare providers. Nurses should communicate with patients' healthcare providers about their concerns and recommendations. Nurses should also advocate for patients' needs and preferences.
- Educating patients about their healthcare options. Nurses should educate patients about their healthcare options in a way that is understandable to them. Nurses should also help patients to make informed decisions about their care.
- Empowering patients to take control of their own health. Nurses should help patients to develop self-management skills and to take control of their own health. Nurses should also support patients in making healthy choices.
In the patient-care situation described above, the nurse intervened and advocated for the patient by refusing to insert the Foley catheter without the patient's informed consent. The nurse protected the patient's right to autonomy and ensured that the patient was not harmed.
Conclusion
Nursing advocacy is an essential part of nursing practice. Nurses play an important role in representing and promoting the best interests of their patients. By intervening and advocating for patients,
Sample Answer
Patient-Care Situation
A 75-year-old man with dementia is admitted to the hospital with a urinary tract infection. The patient's son is his medical decision-maker. The son is informed that the patient needs a Foley catheter inserted to drain his bladder. The son agrees to the procedure without asking any questions.
The nurse is preparing to insert the catheter when she realizes that the patient is not oriented to time or place. The nurse tries to explain the procedure to the patient, but he is unable to understand. The nurse is concerned that the patient is not giving informed consent to the procedure.