ANSWER
An Unethical Nursing Practice Incident
During my clinical rotation as a nursing student, I observed an instance when a registered nurse (RN) routinely disregarded a patient’s requests for pain medicine. The elderly patient, who had just undergone surgery, kept pressing the call light to get her prescription analgesic because she was in excruciating pain. The patient’s suffering was regarded as exaggerated by the nurse, who was clearly frustrated and postponed giving the prescription. It was evident from looking over the patient’s chart that the medication was past due, but the nurse’s prejudice against “drug-seeking behaviour” prevented prompt treatment.
Interpretive Statement and Relevant Provision: The American Nurses Association’s (ANA) Code of Ethics, Provision 1, states that “The nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person.” This incident is in violation of that provision.
In particular, the right of a patient to make decisions regarding their care is emphasised in Interpretive Statement 1.4 (The Right to Self-Determination). The nurse’s acts violated the patient’s autonomy and dignity, and the patient was entitled to pain medication as directed by the doctor.
Thought: This event made clear how crucial it is for nurses to stand up for their patients and respect ethical norms. Every action should be guided by compassion and respect, and assuming anything about patients should never get in the way of giving them fair treatment. To guarantee patient-centered care, nurses must continue to be dedicated to identifying and resolving ethical quandaries.
QUESTION
https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/code-of-ethics-for-nurses/coe-view-only/
Please share an incident that you have witnessed as a nurse or nursing student that you felt had an unethical component. Visit the ANA Code of Ethics and identify the Provision and the interpretive statement that you believe confirms the unethical occurrence.