My name is Mauricio, and I am an Emergency Room (ER) nurse with extensive experience providing care to patients in critical condition. Also, I oversee the ER department’s operations and workflow as a charge nurse in addition to my clinical duties. It is crucial for me to make ethical decisions and think about legal issues as a nursing leader since these factors greatly impact patient care outcomes and the overall healthcare system (Doherty, 2020). It is imperative for me to make ethical-legal decisions if I am to ensure high-quality patient care in my role as a nursing leader. As a leader, I am responsible for advocating on behalf of patients and healthcare staff. I consider ethical principles, professional guidelines, and legal frameworks to guide my decision-making process when faced with ethical dilemmas.
In order to ensure ethical-legal decision-making, my approach as a nursing leader includes staying up-to-date through continuous education on ethical and legal issues, such as reading professional literature, attending conferences, and discussing ethical-legal issues with healthcare professionals (Doherty, 2020). For informed decisions prioritizing patient-centered care, I recognize the importance of collaborating with an interdisciplinary team of physicians, social workers, and ethicists. To ensure access to necessary expertise and support for making well-informed decisions, I will seek advice and consultation from ethics committees, hospital legal counsel, or other relevant resources when faced with complex ethical-legal dilemmas.
As a nursing leader, I believe in taking proactive steps to minimize or alleviate moral distress among healthcare professionals. One integral approach is promoting open communication within the team, creating an environment where ethical concerns and dilemmas can be freely discussed (Heinen et al., 2019). This allows for collective addressing of moral distress and exploration of potential solutions. Additionally, supporting moral resilience is vital by providing necessary resources and support to healthcare teams when navigating ethical dilemmas. This can involve facilitating debriefing sessions, promoting self-care practices, and offering moral reflection and education opportunities. Furthermore, I recognize the importance of advocating for policy changes when identifying recurring ethical dilemmas causing moral distress. Engaging in active advocacy, such as collaborating with nursing associations, participating in quality improvement initiatives, or developing institutional ethical guidelines, can prevent and effectively address moral distress (Heinen et al., 2019).
As a nursing leader, I am guided by core values as I make ethical-legal decisions. Patient-centered care remains a top priority, ensuring patients’ needs, preferences, and overall well-being are central to the decision-making process (Stievano &Tschudin, 2019). I adhere to professional and ethical standards in all aspects of my practice, which is paramount to maintaining integrity. Additionally, collaboration is essential, fostering open and respectful engagement with healthcare colleagues and other stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of diverse perspectives on decision-making. I also value advocacy greatly, as I actively protect patients’ rights and preserve healthcare professionals’ dignity. I am committed to continuous learning, regularly seeking ongoing education and keeping up with current ethical and legal practices to enhance my decision-making abilities.
References
Stievano, A., &Tschudin, V. (2019). The ICN code of ethics for nurses: a time for revision. International nursing review, 66(2), 154-156. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12525
Heinen, M., van Oostveen, C., Peters, J., Vermeulen, H., & Huis, A. (2019). An integrative review of leadership competencies and attributes in advanced nursing practice. Journal of advanced nursing, 75(11), 2378-2392. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14092
Doherty, R. F. (2020). Ethical dimensions in the health professions-e-book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
