philosophy

Paper 1:

American Nurses Association Code of Ethics Exercise

After reading the “American Nurses Association Code of Ethics” online, choose three of the situations below

to answer. Clearly indicate the number of the problem you choose. Then address the following questions for

each scenario you choose: 1) Briefly summarize the dilemma, 2) Identify the relevant provision and

provision section (e.g. “Provision 1, Section 1.1”) that addresses this type of scenario, 3) Explain the proper

response to this scenario in light of this section in the Code, 4) What ethical theory reinforces this response

(explain your reasoning on this too)? Your full response to this assignment should be a total of 1.5-2 pages

double-spaced.

1. A nurse notices that another nurse drinks a cocktail on lunch. They return to work. What part of the

Code is most relevant to considering the nurse’s response to the situation? What do you think the

Code requires of the nurse who notices this situation?

2. A patient is quite messy (in need of cleaning) and seemingly aware, but the patient is not able to

complain about it because of a disability. Another patient is less bad off (less messy), but quite vocal

about it. What part of the Code is most relevant to considering the nurse’s response to the patient in

this situation? What do you think the Code requires of a nurse who notices this situation?

3. A patient is in Hospice. His wife is a very challenging personality, and his children (from his prior wife)

are in another State. The man is trying to contact his children, but his current wife advises Hospice that

this contact will only upset him. What part of the Code is most relevant to considering the nurse’s

response to the situation? What do you think the Code requires of a nurse who notices this situation?

4. A patient makes it clear that she wants to reject further life-support services. She seeks no further

discussion. The nurse tells the patient that, “I understand your request. You’re choosing to die. It’s just

a shame, in my opinion, to see someone reject God’s plan in this way.” What part of the Code is most

relevant to considering the nurse’s interaction with the patient? Do you think the Code supports the

nurse’s behavior here?

5. A Registered Nurse (“R.N.”) is told by the doctor to limit the dosage of pain medicine to a patient. The

nurse knows this patient personally, though, and he knows that this patient has responded well in the

past to a stronger dosage. The patient’s family is also requesting a stronger dosage. When the patient

is in extreme agony, and the nurse is unable to reach a doctor quickly, she considers giving more than

the prescribed dosage. What part of the Code is most relevant to considering the nurse’s response to

the situation? What do you think the Code demands of a nurse in this situation?

6. A patient and physician have been talking through some end of life options, and the primary nurse who

attends to this patient (knowing the patient’s family as well) walks in the room. The patient asks the

nurse for her opinion on the moral dilemma. The nurse has her own personal view, but she also knows

that her view is different from the physician’s point of view. What part of the Code is most relevant to

considering the nurse’s response to the situation? What do you think the Code demands of a nurse

who notices this situation?

7. A nurse has access to information about the sexual history of a patient, and his close friend is now

dating this patient. What part of the Code is most relevant to considering the nurse’s response to the

situation? What do you think the Code demands of a nurse who notices this situation?

8. A nurse is aware that a physician in her clinic is conducting medical experiments on patients. The nurse

is concerned that these patients are particularly unable to understand the risks due to dementia. What

part of the Code is most relevant to considering the nurse’s response to the situation? What do you

think the Code demands of a nurse who notices this situation?

9. When the clinic was overcrowded with patients, an administrative nurse delegated duties to nurse

interns that were to be done without supervision. Some mistakes happened. Who is responsible for

the mistakes? What part of the Code is most relevant to considering the nurse’s response to the

situation? What do you think the Code implies about responsibility/accountability in such cases?

10. A nurse is aware of some recently collected data on a patient that would be helpful to the monitoring

of a patient. The doctor on duty is not aware that the data exists, and thus has not specifically asked

for it. The nurse prefers working with another doctor, who will be on later that evening. If she holds

onto the data, the doctor on duty will not notice that it was not provided and it seems that the patient

is quite stable. Because the nurse dislikes interacting with the doctor on duty, she considers holding

onto the data in order to share it with her preferred doctor later that night. What part of the Code is

most relevant to considering the nurse’s response to the situation? What do you think the Code

demands of a nurse who notices this situation?

11. A Nurse Practitioner advised a patient to change her diet and exercise in order to lower her

cholesterol. This was after discussion with the patient, learning that the patient would not be

comfortable pursuing medication. The patient then had a heart attack. Supervisors now want the

Nurse Practitioner to explain her decision to recommend diet and exercise instead of medication. Does

the nurse have an obligation to explain this to others? What part of the Code is most relevant to

considering the nurse’s response to the situation? What do you think the Code demands of a nurse

who is asked to explain her decision to her notices this situation?