Discussion Ethics and values
Ethics and values are very crucial in the nursing profession. Ethics are principles of right or
wrong behaviors, beliefs, and values (Zerwekh & Garneau, 2017). Ethical guidelines help nurses
work through difficult situations and provide them with a moral compass to do their jobs
reasonably. However, there are issues and concerns, just as ethical guidelines are. Although
ethical issues have been thriving in the healthcare sector, nurses and other healthcare providers
often face ethical issues while caring for their patients. Sometimes they run into several problems
protecting the patient's privacy and confidentiality.
One ethical situation nurses face is the issue of privacy and confidentiality of patients. This
one has two phases to it. Because nurses having access to patients' records and medical history
does not permit them to share with patients' friends or family members except if asked to do so
by the patient. This is an example of following a clear guideline of the code of ethics. On the
other hand, family members withhold a lot of information from the patient, especially when a
life-threatening problem surfaces. The family tends to hide the patients' medical records away
from them, apparently controlling their emotions and trying to make them recover quickly.
However, patients have the right to know their medical conditions. Deciding how to share this
information can be a touchy situation, especially if it goes against the family's beliefs. American
Nurses Association (ANA) advocates for truth-telling as a critical factor in nurse-patient
relationships. Keeping information away from patients can affect the relationship between the
nurse and the patient. It can affect the treatment process; also, there could be declines in the
quality of patient care and moral distress, which means knowing the right thing to do but not
being able to do it.
Justice is one ethical standard I have chosen to compare with Felician University values.
Justice is the duty to treat all patients fairly, without discrimination, either by age, religion, race,
socioeconomic status, and other variations. Everyone should be allowed to assess health care
without prejudice. This ethical standard I chose is also compared to Felician University's value of
justice and peace, which explains the forging of right relationships, recreating a sustainable
environment, and promoting the common good – all in the pursuit of peace. This explains the
Ethics and values are very crucial in the nursing profession. Ethics are principles of right or
wrong behaviors, beliefs, and values (Zerwekh & Garneau, 2017). Ethical guidelines help nurses
work through difficult situations and provide them with a moral compass to do their jobs
reasonably. However, there are issues and concerns, just as ethical guidelines are. Although
ethical issues have been thriving in the healthcare sector, nurses and other healthcare providers
often face ethical issues while caring for their patients. Sometimes they run into several problems
protecting the patient's privacy and confidentiality.
One ethical situation nurses face is the issue of privacy and confidentiality of patients. This
one has two phases to it. Because nurses having access to patients' records and medical history
does not permit them to share with patients' friends or family members except if asked to do so
by the patient. This is an example of following a clear guideline of the code of ethics. On the
other hand, family members withhold a lot of information from the patient, especially when a
life-threatening problem surfaces. The family tends to hide the patients' medical records away
from them, apparently controlling their emotions and trying to make them recover quickly.
However, patients have the right to know their medical conditions. Deciding how to share this
information can be a touchy situation, especially if it goes against the family's beliefs. American
Nurses Association (ANA) advocates for truth-telling as a critical factor in nurse-patient
relationships. Keeping information away from patients can affect the relationship between the
nurse and the patient. It can affect the treatment process; also, there could be declines in the
quality of patient care and moral distress, which means knowing the right thing to do but not
being able to do it.
Justice is one ethical standard I have chosen to compare with Felician University values.
Justice is the duty to treat all patients fairly, without discrimination, either by age, religion, race,
socioeconomic status, and other variations. Everyone should be allowed to assess health care
without prejudice. This ethical standard I chose is also compared to Felician University's value of
justice and peace, which explains the forging of right relationships, recreating a sustainable
environment, and promoting the common good – all in the pursuit of peace. This explains the
