Decision making replies

Name: Ana Hernandez

Institution: FNU

Course: Decision Making-DBX-DL01

Professor: Dr. Nora Hernandez-Pupo

Date: 12/4/2024

Discussion on Ethical Sensitivity and Emotional Intelligence in Nursing Practice

Ethical sensitivity in nursing is the ability to recognize ethical issues, dilemmas, and the potential impact of decisions on patients, colleagues, and healthcare outcomes. It involves understanding and applying ethical principles, autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice to provide compassionate, morally sound care. Also, Emotional intelligence (EI) complements ethical sensitivity by equipping nurses with skills to identify, understand, and manage emotions effectively. EI enables nurses to empathize with patients, communicate clearly, and remain composed during challenging situations. Together, ethical sensitivity and EI empower nurses to navigate complex situations, make ethical decisions, and deliver patient-centered care that aligns with professional values (Butts & Rich, 2022).  

1. Healthcare Practices Requiring Ethical Challenges

Current healthcare practices often present opportunities to challenge established norms to improve care while adhering to ethical principles. For instance, the principle of autonomy can be overlooked in situations where patients' preferences are not fully respected due to time constraints or systemic inefficiencies. An example is the use of standardized discharge protocols that may not align with an individual patient’s cultural or personal beliefs. Similarly, non-maleficence may be compromised when inadequate staffing ratios lead to unintentional harm, such as medication errors or delayed care. Policies regarding the use of pain management can also be scrutinized under beneficence and justice (Chen, Su, Liu, Miao, & Fang, 2021). For example, racial disparities in the administration of pain relief medications highlight the need to challenge unconscious biases within healthcare systems. By applying these ethical principles, nurse leaders and managers can advocate for policy changes that enhance individualized care, ensure equity, and uphold patient dignity. 

1. Ethical Wrongdoing in Clinical Practice and the Role of Emotional Intelligence

An example of potential ethical wrongdoing involves informed consent in procedures like emergency surgeries. In high-pressure situations, healthcare providers may prioritize expediency over ensuring that patients fully comprehend the risks and benefits, violating autonomy. Emotional Intelligence (EI) abilities could significantly mitigate these challenges. For instance:

· Identifying Emotions: Recognizing stress and fear in patients can guide a provider to use a more empathetic communication style.

· Understanding Emotions: Interpreting a patient’s hesitation or confusion as a need for further clarification ensures the decision is fully informed.

· Using Emotions to Reason: Providers can balance their emotions, like frustration during time-sensitive situations, to focus on ethical decision-making.

· Managing Emotions: Controlling personal stress can help maintain calm and clear communication, even in urgent cases (Mert Boğa, Sayilan, Kersu, & Baydemir, 2020).

In a specific clinical scenario, a nurse manager intervened when a colleague hastily obtained consent from a patient who was visibly overwhelmed. The nurse used EI to de-escalate the situation, explain the procedure in simpler terms, and allow the patient more time to process. This act not only upheld the ethical principle of autonomy but also strengthened the patient-provider relationship, showcasing how EI can foster ethical sensitivity in practice (Mert Boğa, Sayilan, Kersu, & Baydemir, 2020). 

Conclusion

Ethical sensitivity and emotional intelligence (EI) are critical for fostering ethical decision-making in nursing practice. By addressing challenges in autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice, nurses can advocate for improved policies and equitable care. EI enhances ethical practice by enabling nurses to recognize, understand, and manage emotions effectively, ensuring patients' needs and rights are respected. Incorporating EI in clinical settings promotes better communication, stronger patient-provider relationships, and adherence to ethical standards. As nursing continues to evolve, integrating ethical sensitivity with EI ensures that care delivery remains compassionate, patient-centered, and aligned with the core values of the profession (Göl & Erkin, 2019). 

References

Butts, J. B., & Rich, K. L. (2022).  Nursing Ethics: Across the Curriculum and Into Practice. Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Learning .

Chen, Q., Su, X., Liu, S., Miao, K., & Fang, H. (2021). The relationship between moral sensitivity and professional values and ethical decision-making in nursing students.  Nurse Education Today, e105056.

             https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2021.105056

Göl, İ., & Erkin, Ö. (2019). Association between cultural intelligence and cultural sensitivity in nursing students: A cross-sectional descriptive study.  Collegian, 485-491.

             https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2018.12.007

Mert Boğa, S., Sayilan, A. A., Kersu, Ö., & Baydemir, C. (2020). Perception of care quality and ethical sensitivity in surgical nurses.  Nursing Ethics, 673-685.

             https://doi.org/10.1177/0969733020901830

Yudeisy Garcia

an hour ago, at 9:09 PM

 

NEW

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Discussion Week 6. Decision Making

Current Health Care Practices Challenged to Improve Caring Based on Ethical Principles

Healthcare practices that limit access to needed care, such as restrictions to mental health services due to insurance limitations or a lack of staffing, raise ethical concerns. These barriers violate the ethical principle of justice, which promotes fairness and equal access to care for all individuals, particularly vulnerable populations. For example, many mental health conditions are underfunded, leading to a limitation in the availability of care and contributing to health disparities. Equally disturbing are the staffing policies, which include forcing nurses to work overtime compulsorily. This is an invitation to the fatigue of nurses, thus disregarding the ethical principle "do no harm." A worn-out nurse is more prone to making errors, which may endanger the safety of the patients. A re-think on staffing and increasing the number of nurses as per the patient requirement will probably prevent any risk to safety. Moreover, by increasing access to mental health care by incorporating the services into the basic insurance package, it is possible to ensure better care in practice to fulfill the principle of justice and to ensure patients obtain adequate treatment without financial barriers.

Another issue that needs critical consideration involves patient autonomy in end-of-life care. Most institutions still pursue aggressive treatments for patients despite clear directives in their advance care plans to the contrary (Terman et al., 2022). This practice defeats the principle of autonomy, wherein the patient's will is disregarded in favor of some institutional protocol. In cases like this, the team often favors paternalistic decision-making, which diminishes the patient's mastery over their care. Healthcare organizations must invest in advancing the practice by providing education in this form of care planning for both patients and providers. Preservation of autonomy can be ensured, while at the same time, the principle of beneficence will not be compromised by unnecessary interventions through advance directives being respected, integrated into the care decision-making process, and accessible.

Ethical Wrongdoing in Clinical Practice and the Role of Emotional Intelligence

In clinical practice, ethical wrongdoing occurs, for example, when treatments are prescribed for patients who are contrary to the patient's preferences. A real-life example shows the case in which a nurse was instructed to aggressively treat a terminally ill patient who wished to receive only palliative care in her advance directive. This case represents a blatant disregard for patient autonomy and a lack of concern for having any care aligned with what a patient may want. The better the situation could have been dealt with, the more effective EI involved. It involves realizing one's emotions and those of others in oneself and the team and better communicating those feelings during a moral stand-off.

For example, certain emotions identified, such as frustration and distress of one's self and colleagues, may lead to pragmatic discussions about ethical issues. The emotion makes the members recognize hidden fears, such as legal fears dominating their reasoning in decision-making. Thus, the group applied emotional reasoning when paying less attention to the pressures from the institution to the desires of the patient, which was stated directly, an indication that it was moving within the framework of the proper care. Clear emphasis shall, particularly, help the family members discuss any issues amicably that may have been pending over various decisions and how and when to involve the patient regarding some of those decisions, knowing at each step whether the patient might like to maintain his or her control.

Research has highlighted the role of EI in minimizing moral distress among health professionals. According to Mansel & Einion, (2019), nurses with high emotional intelligence are better positioned to manage difficult ethical situations. They feel less moral distress, work effectively with others, and are resilient during ethical challenges. Emotional intelligence allows healthcare providers to interact with the patient, the family, and other professionals in an emotionally supportive manner, minimizes conflict, and leads to ethically correct decisions.

Conclusion

Ethical sensitivity in health care is called for by the principles of the ANA Code of Ethics to meet moral challenges and improve patient care. By incorporating emotional intelligence into ethical decision-making, healthcare providers can heighten their ability to navigate complex situations, respect patient autonomy, minimize harm, and promote justice. With training in EI and commitment to ethical principles themselves, health professionals will provide an environment that focuses on ensuring patient-centered care and the ethical considerations at the top as far as clinical decision-making is concerned. Ultimately, these efforts help improve outcomes and satisfaction, not only among patients but also among healthcare providers.

References

Mansel, B., & Einion, A. (2019). “It’s the relationship you develop with them”: emotional intelligence in nurse leadership. A qualitative study.  British Journal of Nursing,  28(21), 1400–1408.  https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2019.28.21.1400

Terman, S. A., Steinberg, K. E., & Hinerman, N. (2022). Flaws in advance directives that request withdrawing assisted feeding in late-stage dementia may cause premature or prolonged dying.  BMC Medical Ethics,  23(1).  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-022-00831-7

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