For this discussion, Tenet number 8 best describes my clinical practice dilemma. The
principle states that the nurse collaborates with other professionals in the health sector and the
public to ensure protection of human rights, promote health diplomacy, and eradicate health
inequalities.
As a nurse practitioner, I am tasked with ensuring that homeless individuals with
mental health illness have access to better care and consequently link them to housing and
rehabilitation services. This Tenet is challenging to practice because while in the process of
securing better housing and care for the homeless, there is a lack of communication and
collaboration between agencies that provide shelter and therapy to the mentally ill homeless
individuals.
In reference to Zucchero, McDonnald, and McInnes, (2016) United Sates has many
agencies that are willing to offer shelter to the homeless, however, there is lack of coherence and
clear communication channels between them all. This in turn does not directly affect them, but it
affects the lives of homeless people relying on their services (Zucchero, et. al.2016).
This Tenet is supported by Theory of teleology. According to teleological ethical
theories, moral goodness is found in the results of our actions rather than the actions themselves
(Herring, 2014). According to teleological moral theory, all rational human actions are
teleological in the sense that we reason about the means to achieve specific ends. As a result,
moral behavior is goal-oriented (Herring, 2014). In this case, the main aim of the entire process
is to rehabilitate the mentally ill homeless, offer therapy and provide shelter.
Offering shelter and counseling to mentally ill homeless people, for example, could
hardly be declared inherently right or wrong without considering the context and the likely
repercussions (Lin, Bharel, Zhang, O’Connell, & Clark, 2015). Many moral theorists claim that
morality necessitates examining the motivations (or intent) that led to that behavior. What
important are the short and long-term joys linked with the outcomes (Lin, et.al. 2015).
The eighth Tenet insists that the nurse should collaborate with other health
professionals and the public for the best interest of the patient. However, in terms of admissions,
many homeless patients arrive at the ER with no medical issues and simply look for food and
a place to sleep. While providing food and shelter is vital, it is not part of the hospital's work
area.
When it comes to discharge, whether, for further care or hospice, healthcare
professionals say that a patient's lack of shelter adds to the issue, as homeless individuals are
seen as a liability by nursing facilities and are frequently denied entrance.
References
Herring J (2014). Medical Law and Ethics. 5th edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Lin, W., Bharel, M., Zhang, J., O’Connell, E., & Clark, R. (2015). Frequent Emergency
Department Visits and Hospitalizations Among Homeless People With Medicaid.
American Journal of Public Health, 105 (S5): S716-S722.
Zucchero, T. L., McDonnald, S., McInnes, D. K. (2016). “Walking in a maze”: community
providers’ difficulties coordinating health care for homeless patients. BMC Health
Services Research, 16:480.
