Question

form a discussion by engaging with EACH of the FOUR bullets points provided in the picture.

Identify at the beginning of EACH of the four responses the bullet point number eg #1, #2,#3,#4.

ETHICAL REFLECTION: A WOMAN WITH UTERINE CANCER You are the nurse caring for a woman scheduled for a hysterectomy because of uterine cancer. The community knows her surgeon as having a bad surgical record in general but especially in performing hysterectomies. The woman previously heard gossip to this effect and asks you about it before her surgery because she is apprehensive about using the surgeon. You know at least one legal suit has been filed against him because you personally know the woman involved in a case of a botched hysterectomy. Your choices are as follows: (1) you could be brutally honest and truthful with your preoperative patient, (2) you could be part truthful by giving her correct information on certain pieces of the gossip to clarify misconceptions but remaining silent on other parts of the gossip you know could be damaging, or (3) you could be totally untruthful by remaining silent or telling her you have heard nothing. Discuss these options and any other ideas you may have regarding this case. As a nurse who wants to be committed to an ethical nursing practice, what actions might you consider in this difficult circumstance? Be as objective as possible. Now that you have determined possible actions, please justify these actions by applying either Kant's deontological theory, utilitarian theory, or a virtue ethics approach. Describe the major differences and any similarities among these three frameworks (deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics). Other than simply telling the truth verbally to patients and others, how else can you display your honesty and truthful sort in ethical nursing practice? Imagine how you would portray honesty in different settings and situations, such as patient care and family relationships, documentation, safe care, and relationships with coworkers and administrators, while taking into consideration the moral obligations delineated in the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements

Answer 1

The nurse should be truthful to her profession. When the patient asking about the surgeon's performance, the nurse does not need to be truthful which is out of her duties and care. It is not the duty of the nurse to clear the patient's gossip. Based on ethical nursing practice, the nurse should be honest with her professional related works. Providing information about previous surgical outcomes to the patient is considered as ethical violence. Giving certain pieces of information about surgeon is also not acceptable and it also increases the patient's doubts. The nurse should remain silent in this situation.

Virtue ethics helps nurses to decide on what information to be provided to the patient. It is a philosophical approach to make the judgement of virtue in truth-telling. Virtue ethics allows nurses to appropriately examine the patient outcome before taking a decision. Virtue ethics provides guidelines during ethical dilemmas.

Kartin deontology, utilitarianism, and virtue ethics are focused on right actions. Kant viewed as telling truth to the patient irrespective of right or wrong actions. Utilitarianism viewed the right thing based on the consequences of the action. Virtue ethics is in contrast with deontology and utilitarianism which allows making moral judgments of the action.

The nurse must be honest to the patient to maintain the integrity and moral standards. The code of ethics focus on the professional behavior of the patient. The nurse's action will not lead any harm to the patient. The nurse must respect the patient's rights and maximize the physical, social, and emotional well-being of the patient. The nurse must advocates for patient's safety, at the same time protects the privacy and confidentiality of health information.