Personal Ethics

Introduction

Every individual lives by and has a professional, moral compass. In the nursing profession, an individual’s cultural, spiritual, and personal values offer a significant contribution to their philosophy and worldview on nursing. Personal philosophy and worldview may however create an ethical dilemma through their conflict with a person’s obligation to the practice. Additionally, personal values in terms of ethic dilemmas and morals in the nursing profession can influence both the behavior and decision making of an individual (Butts & Rich, 2005). Personally, my spiritual, cultural, and personal belief revolve around my place of origin.

Question one

My parents inculcated in me the drive of giving my best to a good cause. As I pursued my ambitions in the nursing field, that belief was my driving force and inspiration. Now a qualified nurse working in the United States, I have taken it upon myself to offer diligent services when caring for families and patients. Other values that influence my philosophy and worldview are responsibility and integrity. I work for consistency in my methods, expectations, and principles. In addition, I have managed to learn the essence of taking responsibility and its effect of helping me attain better goals and put more effort in my work. These values have ultimately affected how I deliver care to a patient. In this regard, I work with the notion of placing myself in the same situation as the patient. Respect may be an underrated consideration, but I believe showing respect to patients and their family members shows them their worth.

Question two

In my view, I do not consider the nursing profession a simple vocation. Rather, it is a call for people with respect and humility to offer care to sick patients. I believe it is my responsibility to be respectful, hardworking and honest nurse when dealing with the health of ailing patients. In addition, it is equally crucial to obey orders and adhere to procedures stipulated by physicians and doctors. However, I cannot overlook the fact that some of my personal values pose a conflict with my practice obligation and that this leads to the creation of an ethical dilemma. For example, showing respect to patients treating their information with confidentiality. However, if I should stumble into any information regarding illegal or wrongful action, I have to lawfully overlook my confidentiality with the patient and report him or her to the relevant authority.

Confidentiality is among the dilemmas a nurse has to deal with in their professional career (Butts & Rich, 2005). Showing respect to patients also involves offering the best service to ensure the safety of the rest of the population at large. In this case, this should involve reporting any criminal and illegal actions to relevant authorities. Another ethical dilemma in my nursing profession manifests itself in inappropriate medical orders. There are those situations where a nurse finds himself or herself conflicting with a medical prescription made by the doctor or physician. Prescribing the wrong medication to an illness can prove fatal in certain situations. At the same time, failure to follow a doctor’s directive can cost a nurse his or her job.

Question three

Ethical dilemmas bear the possibility of creating anxiety and stress in the nursing profession (Edwards, 2004). Nurses have an obligation towards providing the most effective and safest care to patients. This implies that nurses should not undertake any actions that can potentially jeopardize the patient’s life. Putting this into consideration, ethical dilemmas lead to situations that require the nurse to make professional decisions between two complicated choices. As stated above dilemmas related to medication orders and confidentiality normally subject the nurse to great distress and confusion. In my belief, I feel it is best to foster the understanding that the most fundamental aspect of the nursing profession revolves around the well-being of the patient and security of the family members and society. Security in this case refers to measures preventing spreading of a disease to a healthy population or protection from physical harm.

When bombarded with a dilemma of the above nature, a nurse has to act in the most diligent way possible even it means resorting to filing a report with the police. This should be considered as an action taken in a patient’s best interest. In the same case, if a physician prescribes the wrong medication for a patient, then I would act professionally and ask for an explanation in a respectful and humble way. My personal view influences the way I behave through the belief that we should show respect to both those below and above us. This is the reason why I would act to question a doctor’s directive on medication order when I feel it is wrong. Furthermore, I feel that doctors and physicians are obligated to answer a question of that nature in the same respectful and modest manner.

Conclusion

Indeed, the nursing profession is a challenging field that that should not be taken for a simple vocation. The way I conduct myself and deliver my services in this field has been ultimately affected by my personal values and philosophy. My professional, moral implications require me to practice nursing in an honest, responsible and compassionate manner. These values have ultimately affected the way I conduct myself in my professional career. If I recognize all the facts and act in a respectful and professional manner, then I feel that I will excel in my profession.

References

Butts, J. B., & Rich, K. (2005). Nursing ethics: Across the curriculum and into practice. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett.

Edwards, S. (2004). Nursing ethics. Nurse Education Today, 14, 2, 136-9.