TUTORING

A Written Monologue Related to an Ethical Issues Paper

Lyane Suarez Cabrera

Miami-Dade College

NUR3805 - Foundations and Role Transitions of the Professional Nurse

Carolina Ferreiro

September 25th, 2025

A Written Monologue Related to an Ethical Issues Paper

Introduction

Nursing incivility is a chronic and detrimental problem that impacts patient safety, professional growth, and workplace morale. Experienced nurses and new nurses are the targets of one of the most underappreciated types of rudeness. In order to emphasize the value of courteous cooperation and moral decision-making in nursing practice, this paper offers a written monologue that examines the ethical and emotional aspects of this conundrum. It does this by consulting the ANA Code of Ethics and academic literature.

Monologue: The Silence Between Us

I hold my chart like a shield as I enter the break room. I recently graduated from nursing school, and I am both excited and afraid. The field of nursing would focus on compassion and healing. However, nobody informed me of the silence. The type that follows me when I pose a query. The kind that hurts more than words can express. After ten years, she is a skilled registered nurse who is well-respected for her efficiency and sharpness. However, she sighs when I ask for assistance. Instead of correcting me when I make a mistake, she informs others. The murmurs reach my ears. I sense the eyes. Unspoken judgment is engulfing me. It is more than just a personality conflict. It is impolite. It is also a moral conundrum. The ANA Code of Ethics mandates that nurses treat one another with dignity and respect. We work together. However, patient care suffers when hierarchy turns into animosity. Asking questions makes me hesitant. I question the choices I have made. I have become less confident. Moreover, that is risky for the people I am attempting to care for as well as for me. I am reminded that ethical dilemmas are not always dramatic by the article *An Integrated Ethical Decision-Making Model for Nurses*. They can occasionally be subtle. There are instances when they are systemic. Additionally, they are occasionally concealed by professionalism. However, the harm is genuine. This is echoed in the review of *Nurses' Experiences of Ethical Dilemmas*: distress ensues when values and reality diverge. I can sense it too. Every shift. So what do I do? I talk. I keep records. I am looking for coaching. I speak up for both the culture I aspire to and for myself. Since silence does not equate to neutrality, it is cooperation. Moreover, I am not going to be complicit. For care, I became a nurse. Taking care of my coworkers is part of it. This involves speaking up when care is in jeopardy; moreover, that includes holding onto the idea that change is possible despite rudeness.

Discussion

This monologue illustrates the psychological costs and moral complexities of rudeness in nursing. Building a culture of civility, cooperation, and respect for one another is crucial, according to the ANA Code of Ethics (2021). According to Provision 1, nurses must treat everyone with kindness and respect, including their coworkers. According to Provision 8, nurses must work together to uphold human rights and lessen inequities, which includes dealing with toxic workplace dynamics. For resolving such conflicts, the article *An Integrated Ethical Decision-Making Model for Nurses* provides a framework. It motivates nurses to recognize the moral dilemma, acquire pertinent data, think about their values and principles, and act. The new nurse must balance the ethical duty to promote a healthier workplace with the dangers of speaking up in this situation. Unresolved ethical conflicts can result in moral distress, burnout, and subpar care, as the review article *Nurses’ Experiences of Ethical Dilemmas* emphasizes. Incivility fosters a hostile atmosphere that jeopardizes safety and teamwork, particularly when it becomes accepted. Without assistance, new nurses are especially at risk of leaving the field too soon.

Conclusion

An ethical dilemma that requires consideration and action regarding incivility between experienced and inexperienced nurses is more than just a problem at work. This monologue demonstrates how tacit animosity and silence can undermine trust, jeopardize treatment, and transgress moral principles. Through the implementation of ethical frameworks and the promotion of courteous teamwork, nurses can start to change the culture to one that more accurately represents the ideals of the field. Speaking up even when it's difficult is the first step toward awareness, which in turn leads to change.

References

American Nurses Association. (2021). *Nursing: Scope and standards of practice* (4th ed.). American Nurses Association.

Andrews, M. M., Boyle, J. S., & Collins, J. W. (2016). *Transcultural concepts in nursing care* (7th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.