Values, Ethics, and Legal Issues Flashcards
What is a dilemma?
when someone has to choose between 2 morally incompatible and similarly weighed obligations
a catch 22
What is moral courage?
overcome fear and stand up for patient’s rights
Allows for ethical and legal patient care
What is moral failure?
when one regrets, feels lost; guilty; or powerless because the resolution is not quickly determined or there is no resolution
What are values?
LEARNED implicit and explicit mental maps for decision making that a present for a long period in someone’s life
We use these to distinguish right from wrong
What is a value system?
a learned set of rules and principles
This is how we prioritize values
What should we do when value systems are not the same?
Recognize our own values and the patient’s values.
What is an attitude?
A person’s disposition toward something or a situation
What is a belief?
an idea that someone accepts as true
What are behaviors?
actions that can be perceived or observed
They indicate a person’s value priorities
What affects how values change, are accepted or let go?
culture, society, one’s age and stage of development
What is a worldview?
unquestioned framework or predominant set of assumptions on how people view life
This guides actions
What influences socialization?
family, school, religion, work, and service
What is morality?
principles of conscienceand that rules are cooperative agreements that can be modified
When does someone start to act more upon their own principles (peer pressure not as effective)
late adolescence
How do religions influence values?
teach faith-based principles and ritualize values through activities
What are value clarification methods?
ways to help providers and patients to find out what is important when there is a decision to make and a need or prioritize
What are some examples of value clarification methods?
pros and cons list, ranking sheet
Examine past situations and decisions
Reflect on current options and future decisions
Explore how they spend their time by naming things they do in a typical 24 hour day
What are the assumptions in a value clarification process?
the people a part of the process must feel safe enough to openly reveal their values
the people must have the ability to not need to agree or disagree with others in the discussion
there needs to be enough time to think about the values in question and time to identify your values
What is values inquiry?
a way to analyze social issues and the values that drive human choices
What questions are good to ask to understand someone’s values?
what are the claims from the viewpoint of the patient? What are the facts from the viewpoint of the nurse? What are the claims from the viewpoint of the family?
What values are represented in each of the viewpoints of the claim statements?
What is the cultural worldview and orientation system that helps to define each claim as important?
What are the possible solutions from the point of view of the patient, family, and nurse?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of each possible solution?
What are common issues when resolving value conflicts?
perception of conflict
meaning of resolution
values underlying the resolution process
What are institutional policies?
guidelines developed by organizations or agencies to direct professional practice
What is ethics?
a type of philosophy, concentrating on morality
What does morality look at?
intentions and actions that are viewed as good or right compared to actions seen as bad or wrong
What is morality?
set of beliefs about what is right and wrong to determine the correct or acceptable action in a moment
What are personal values?
beliefs a person feels are very important.
these are learned through socialization
What are professional ethics?
values of disciplinary groups
What is the Code of Ethics for Nurses?
a professional guideline for nursing conduct and responsibilities created by the ANA (in the US)
What is the ICN?
International Council of Nurses
They published a code of ethics for nurses, which is recognized as relevant in several countries
Explain the Code of Ethics for Nurses by the ANA?
Compassion and respect
Commitment to the patient
Protects the patient’s rights and advocates for their patient
Accountable and responsible for nursing practice
Promote health and safety, holism, and stay professionally competent
Establish, maintain, and improve an ethical environment
Research and inquire scholarly to advance the field
Collaborate with health professionals to protect human rights, promote health, diplomacy and reduce health disparities
Integrity and social justice
What is autonomy?
creating an environment to allow patients to make their own medical decisions considering their own values and circumstances
What is a living will?
advanced directive that outlines the specific types of medical treatment patients are okay and not oaky with recieving
What is a proxy directive or durable power of attorney for healthcare?
advanced directive that names a person to make decisions if they are unable to make decisions by themselves
What is beneficence?
promoting good to help people
Wht is nonmaleficence?
avoid doing, prevent, and remove from harm
What is justice?
making decisions about distributing resources for societies or groups
What is the AHA?
American Hospital Association
created a brochure outlining patient rights, ethical values, and legal rules. They emphasize veracity, fidelity, privacy, and confidentiality
What is veracity?
telling the truth
What is fidelity?
keeping your promises
What is privacy?
use patient information correctly and cover a patient’s body when able to
What is confidentiality?
keep patient information private
How do you resolve ethical dilemmas?
Validate feelings
Analyze case
Identify potential outcomes
Identify short-mand long-term goals
Clarify accountabilities according to plan
Follow through with the established plan
Resolve reactions
Evaluate impact
What are organizational ethics committees?
groups of ethical consultants that evaluate and address ethical problems at a healthcare facility.
can help be an ethical consult in some cases
REQUIRED BY THE JOINT COMMISSION
What are laws?
rules or standards of human conduct that protect citizens’ rights and created by legislative bodies and interpreted in courts.
What are the sources of law?
legislative satutes
constitutions
common law
What are constitutions?
foundations of the systems of justice
What are legislative statues?
law from a legislative body
What is common law?
changes based on court decisions; these cannot be supported only by statutory constitutional law
What are the categories of law?
criminal or civil
What is civil law?
private law that looks at relationships among private individuals
What are the types of civil law?
contract law and tort law
What is criminal law?
public law that looks at public safety and welfare
What are the types of criminal law?
felonies and misdemeanors
What is licensure?
legal ability to practice a profession
What are generally outlined in nurse practice acts?
GENERALLY concern scope and expectations of practice, how nursing is governed, and outline of nursing education requirements
When is there liability for licensing for nurses?
sub standard care = malpractice
drug diversion or drug abuse
sexual contact with patients (especially in psych)
What are the standards of care?
expected level of performance or practice outlined by authority or customs
What is a tort?
unintentional or intentional private wrong doing that the law can rectify
What can happen when a tort is committed?
can go to civil court
compensate for damages
What is a crime?
a wrong punishable by the state
