In most ethical dilemmas the solution to the dilemma requires negotiation

With values as focal point, the National Association of Social Workers has created a framework that is used by social workers to address ethical dilemmas. The framework includes six steps:

  1. Determine whether there is an ethical issue or/and dilemma. Is there a conflict of values, or rights, or professional responsibilities?
  2. Identify the key values and principles involved. What meanings and limitations are typically attached to these competing values?
  3. Rank the values or ethical principles which – in your professional judgement – are most relevant to the issue or dilemma. What reasons can you provide for prioritizing one competing value/principle over another?
  4. Develop an action plan that is consistent with the ethical priorities that have been determined as central to the dilemma. Have you conferred with clients and colleagues, as appropriate, about the potential risks and consequences of alternative courses of action? Can you support or justify your action plan with the values/principles on which the plan is based?
  5. Implement your plan, utilizing the most appropriate practice skills and competencies. How will you make use of core social work skills such as sensitive communication, skillful negotiation, and cultural competence?
  6. Reflect on the outcome of this ethical decision making process. How would you evaluate the consequences of this process for those involved: client(s), professional(s), and agency(ies)?

In comparison, Evans and MacMillan (2014) have developed a framework involving 10 steps to make ethical decision-making efficient and practical. This framework is specific to law enforcement officers and addresses the consideration of laws, regulations, policy, and procedures that other frameworks assume will be followed, but in law enforcement are very important to avoid charges and allow cases against suspects to proceed. The framework concludes with a follow-up to determine the effectiveness of the course of action taken by the officer.

Regis College’s online Master of Science in Nursing degree offers several specializations, including family care, women’s health, pediatrics, psychiatric mental health and primary and acute geriatric care. Coursework in these specializations gives nurses a deeper understanding of the ethical principles involved in each type of care. Aspiring nurses interested in the important role ethics plays in their field should explore Regis’s online nursing programs to learn more.

QuestionAnswer The client a Nurse is caring for needs a liver transplant to survive and doesn't work and cannot pay for transplant. A discussion about the ethics of this situation would involve predominately the principle of: Justice, because the first and greatest question in this situation is how to determine the just distribution of resources. Healthcare providers including nurses agree to "do no harm" to clients. Statement reassures public that the healthcare team will work to heal & agree to do so in the least painful & harmful way. The principle that describes this agreement is: Nonmaleficence A child's immunization may cause discomfort during administration, but the benefits of protection from disease, both for the individual and for society, outweigh the temporary discomforts. This involves the principle of: Benefience If a nurse assesses a client for pain and then offers a plan to manage teh pain, the principle that encourages the nurse to monitor teh client's response to the plan is: Fidelity The code of ethics for nurses is composed and published by: The American Nurses Association Nurses agree to be advocates for their patients. Practice of advocacy calls for the nurse to: Assess the client's point of view and prepare to articulate this point of view. Successful ethical discussion depends on people who have a clear sense oof personal values. When many people share the same values it may be possible to identify a philosphy of utilitarianism, which proposes that: The value of something is determined by its usefulness to society. The philosophy sometimes called the ethics of care suggests that ethical dilemmas can best be solved by attention to: Relationships In most ethical dilemmas, the solution to the dilemma requires negotiation among members of the healthcare team. The nurse's point of view is valuable because: Nurses develop a relationship to the client that is unique among all professional healthcare providers. Ethical dilemmas often arise over a conflict of opinion. Once the nurse has determined that the dilemma is ethical, a critical first step in negotiating the difference of opinion would be to: Gather all relevant information regarding the clinical, social, and spiritual aspects of the dilemma. A healthcare issue often becomes an ethical dilemma because: The choices involved do not appear to be clearly right or wrong. A document that lists the medical treatment a person chooses to refuse if unable to make decisions is the: Advance Directives Which statement about an institutional ethis commettee is correct? The ethics committee is an additional resource for clients and healthcare professionals. The nurse is working with parets of a seriously ill newborn. Surgery has been proposed for the infant, but the chances of success are unclear. In helping the parents resolve this ethical conflict, the nurse knows that the first step is: Collecting all available information about the situation. Mrs. G. 88 yr old woman, believes life should not be prolonged when hope is gone. She decides that she doesn't want extra help if her life ends. She has spoken w/ her daughter and physician ahead of time & has a living will. This is an example of: Prizing a value Ethics Ethics refer to the study of philosophical ideals of right and wrong behavior. Bioethics Bioethics refers specifically to ethical issues that affect health and the delivery of healthcare. Code of Ethics A code of ethics provides a foundation for professional nursing. Key Concepts (21) Professional Nursing promotes accountablity, responsibilty, and advocacy. Key Concepts (21) Basic standards of ethics in healthcare include autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, and fidelity. Key Concepts (21) Personal ethics grow from personal values. Key Concepts (21) Feelings and beliefs play an important role in the resolution of ethical problems. Key Concepts (21) The process of values clarification helps a nurse to explore personal values and feelings and to decide how to act on personal beliefs. Key Concepts (21) Ethical problems arise from differences in values, changing professional roles, technoloical advances, and social issues that influence quality of life. Key Concepts (21) A standard process for thinking through ethical dilemmas helps providers resolve conflict or uncertainty about right actions. Key Concepts (21) critical thinking is an important part of processing ethical dilemmas. Accountability refers to teh ability to answer for one's own actions. Autonomy refers to a person's independence. Beneficence refers to taking positive actions to help others. Confidentiality HIPPAA defines the rights and priviledges of clients for protection of privacy without diminishing access to quality care. All information about client can't be shared with others without specific client consent. Consequentalism A utililarian system of ethics proposes that the value of something is determined by its usefulness and its main emphasis is on the outcome or consequence of action. Cultural Values are those adopted as a result of the social setting in which a person lives. Deontology defines actions as right or wrong based on their "right-making characteristics such as fidelity to promises, truthfullness, and justice" Ethnocentrism refers to the belief that one's own culture is superior. Fidelity referes to the agreement to keep promises. Value a personal belief about the worth of a given idea, attitude, custom, or object that sets standards that influence behavior. Justice refers to fairness. Nonmaleficence the avoidance of harm or hurt. Responsibility refers to the characteristics of reliability and dependability Teleology The study of ends or final causes. Values Clarification A process of self-discovery that helps a person gain insight into values. Veracity means accuracy or conformity to truth

What are the correct steps to resolve an ethical dilemma?

RIGHT Decision Method.
Recognize the ethical dilemma..
Identify points of view..
Gather resources and assistance..
Have a plan..
Take action based on ethical standards..

Which is the best method of negotiating or processing difficult ethical situations?

Which is the best method of negotiating or processing difficult ethical situations? 1. Ethical issues arise between dissenting providers and can be best resolved by deference to an independent arbitrator such a chaplain.

When an ethical dilemma occurs on your unit can you resolve the dilemma by taking a vote?

Gather all relevant information (clinical, social, and spiritual) . When an ethical dilemma occurs on your unit, can you resolve the dilemma by taking a vote? No because an ethical dilemma involves the resolution of conflicting values and principals rather than simply the identification of what people want to do .

What is a best practice for resolving an ethical dilemma quizlet?

1) Gather the facts, and specify the dilemma. 2) Analyze possible courses of action, taking into account both a set of principles and potential consequences. 3) Select and implement a course of action. 4) Evaluate the results of the action.