Ethical Theories of Nursing Essay

When a person meets the unfortunate circumstance of being admitted to a hospital for an illness they are depending on healthcare personnel to have their best interest in mind and make them better. When people think of who it is taking care of them and making them better they specifically think of Doctors and Nurses. As Doctors and more specifically Registered Nurses it is their duty to have a client’s best interest in mind and always act in their benefit. This raises the question, what guides Nurses to maintain this mindset of always putting the patient first? The answer is their ethical duty, meaning every nurse is guided by ethical theories and principles which help guide them as a patient advocate. It is these ethics that make a nurse so valuable to clients and ultimately makes a nurse the client’s best advocate. In this paper the core ethical theories and principles will be discussed and how exactly this helps RN’s be the best possible advocate and what benef its the clients themselves derive from these ethical theories. In order to properly understand the ethical theories of nursing one must first know what the core ethical principles and theories in nursing are. The ethical principles of nursing are Autonomy, Beneficence, Fidelity, Informed consent, Integrity, Justice, Nonmaleficence, Paternalism, Veracity, as well as Privacy and confidentiality. Some ethical theories that influence nursing practice are Consequentialism, Deontology, Ethical Relativism, Utilitarianism theory, Teleology, Virtue ethics, and Justice and equity. To a layperson some of these words may make sense and others may not. In order to better understand how these theories and principles shape the practice of nursing you must better understand what they mean. A brief description of some of these terms will be given before their influence on nurses is discussed. Autonomy refers to the patients’ own rights to make decisions about their healthcare, health, and lives without the interference from healthcare personnel such as the physician, the nurse, or other team members. This means the nurse would have to resist the urge to interject his or her own feelings, values or beliefs onto the patient. This principle was made more evident with the passing of the Patient Self Determination Act by Congress in 1990 (â€Å"Ethical Principles,† n.d., para. 2). Beneficence is very simple, it is referring to always doing what is beneficial to the patient and therefore in their best interest (Silva & Ludwick, 1999). This principle also invo lves taking actions to help benefit others and prevent  both physical and mental harm of the patient. Fidelity is synonymous with faithfulness and is therefore achieved by remaining loyal, fair, and truthful to patient and encompassing the idea of being a patient advocate. An example of fidelity would be keeping a promise to a patient of coming back to check on them even if they become slammed with a heavy workload. Informed consent is directly related to autonomy in the fact that it allows the patient to make an informed decision about their treatment (Daly, 2009). This means that accurate information must be provided to the patient in order to make an informed decision. Three elements involved in informed consent are Informed, Competent, and Voluntary. What this means is the patient has all the accurate information, they are in a stable and competent mindset to make the decision, and that they are voluntarily making the decision. Justice is simply referring to fairness and equality. It is applied to healthcare by providing equitable access to nursing care. Nonmaleficence literally translates to â€Å"do no harm† and is a concept that originated from the Hippocratic Oath. Nurses apply this principle by not causing injury, being either physical, psychological, emotiona, or financial (â€Å"Ethical Principles,† n.d., para. 16). Paternalism is a negative principle of nursing and is implied when a nurse does not respect the patients’ right to autonomy by making decisions for the patient because he or she thinks she knows what’s best for that patient (Sliva & Ludwick, 1999). Privacy and Confidentiality is relating to maintaining the security of a patient’s information and only sharing that information on a need-to-know basis with other healthcare members involved with that patients care and act to prevent breaches of confidentiality. Veracity as a word is associated with truthfulness. In nursing it is a duty to disclose pertinent information and the obligation to respect confidentiality at the same time. This means giving truthful information about the risks of a procedure while still respecting the patient’s confidentiality. These are the main principles of ethics as far as it pertains to nursing and knowing this information is vital to understanding ethical theories and how to bet ter apply them as a practicing nurse. As mentioned earlier some of the Ethical theories are Consequentialism, Deontology, Ethical Relativism, Teleology, Virtue ethics, and Justice and  equity. It is important for Nurses to understand the definition of each of these, as well as how to apply them, and how it benefits the patient. It is pivotal for nurses because it will ensure that they are preforming their jobs and duties with the highest regard to patient advocacy and maintain the ethics which nursing is based on. Consequentialism, also referred to as utilitarianism, seems simple enough to understand as the word â€Å"consequence† is evident. Consequentialist ethics refers to the idea that the correct moral response is always going to be related to the outcome, or consequence, of the act. This idea can also be thought of in a way that if a decision must be made it would be wisest to make the decision with the central aim of doing the maximum amount of greatest good for the greatest number of people. The actual ‘good’ that is being referred to can be expressed in numerous ways such as referring to values such as happiness, being pain or symptom free, or another life enhancing outcome (â€Å"Ethical Theories,† n.d., para. 2). There can be a backside to this theory however which can cause acts that would be contrary to the rights of individuals if the end result is one that would improve care for many others, this is referring back to the theory of doing the greatest good for the greatest amount of people. Deontology is simply following the moral theory of doing unto others as you would want them to do unto you. This theory is placing more value on the intentions of the individual as opposed to the actual outcome of any action. It also focuses on rules, obligations, and duties. In order to follow the theory of deontology it requires absolute adherence to these obligations and acting from duty is viewed as acting ethically. An ethical person must always follow the rules, even if doing so causes a less desirable outcome. Since with this theory it is the motives of the actor that determine the value of the act a bad outcome may be acceptable if the intent of the actor was good. On the back side of this theory there is a criticism in healthcare that applying a strictly deontological approach to healthcare can lead to conflicts of interest between equally entitled individuals which can be difficult or even seemingly impossible to resolve (â€Å"Ethical Theories,† n.d. para. 4). Teleology is a theory that is opposite to deontology in a sense. Whereas with deontology it is the intent of the decision made that determines the value as opposed to the outcome, with teleology it is the  outcome that determines whether the act is good or of value and that achievement of a good outcome justifies using a less desirable means to attain the end. Ethical relativism takes into account for the variability in what is considered to be normal or acceptable to any given culture. What this is saying is that every culture has their own set of norms and therefore certain behaviors that may be acceptable in one culture may not be acceptable in others. A nurse must keep in mind that ethical standards are relative to person, place, time, and culture. The nurse must take on the fact that whatever a person thinks is right, is right. Right and wrong is not definite in most cases as there are no absolute truths. While there are no universal truths in ethical relativism there are few topics that are not open to debate, such as incest (American Nurses Association, 2011). Although this theory has been largely rejected it is still valuable for a nurse to consider when caring for their patients. If a nurse is better educated on the culture of their client and what is considered normal or taboo they will be better equipped to provide excellent care in that persons eyes without infringing on their culture or having a biased opinion of them. Virtue ethics is different from other ethical theories in that it places much less emphasis on which rules people should follow and instead focuses on helping people develop good character traits, such as kindness and generosity. These character traits will, in turn, allow a person to make the correct decisions later on in life. Virtue theorists also emphasize the need for people to learn how to break bad habits of character, such as greed or anger. These are called vices and stand in the way of becoming a good person. This theory, while having the patients best interest in mind, focuses on the healthcare provider and asking them to learn good habits while breaking bad habits in order to predispose them to making the correct decision automatically while providing care to their clients. It requires the nurse to take a look at his or herself and make judgments on their character and work to change whatever is deemed unethical about themselves for the greater good of their patients. Thi s is an essential process of becoming a nurse as nobody is perfect and allowing oneself to be open minded about change will allow them to be the best nurse possible. Justice and equity is simple, it refers to being fair and equal to all patients no matter their socioeconomic status or resources at their disposal. This ethical theory is meant to  protect the less privileged people in society and give them access to fair and equal healthcare access without bias from the healthcare members caring for them. The theory states that a â€Å"veil of ignorance† should be worn regarding who is affected by a decision and should be used by all decision makers because it allows for unbiased decision making. An ethical person should choose the action that is fair to all, including both the advantaged and disadvantaged groups in society. This theory is in place to protect those less fortunate people and is essential to all of society to keep the balance and fairness when it comes to healthcare. Now that all of the ethical principles have been defined it is easier to make sense of how the ethical theories came about for our healthcare system and all the members of the healthcare team taking care of the patients. It is essential for these theories to be understood and applied by nurses all across the world in order to attain the best results for patients and the future of our healthcare system. It is essential of nurses to be well versed in the ethical principles and even more so in ethical theories to help guide them in their decision making when caring for clients. A nurse who knows the ethical theories and furthermore applies them in the field will have better client outcomes and prevent errors that can cause harm to a client in any way shape or form. These theories truly help protect not only the patients being cared for but also the nurses caring for those patients.

Handwriting a Letter Versus Sending an E-Mail Message

Versus Sending an E-mail Message Handwriting a letter is very similar yet different from sending an email. Since the dawn of man until around the sass's people have wrote letters. In the sass's when the home Internet was first available, people became so fond of e-mailing that handwriting letters quickly became a lost art. Handwriting a letter is more personal and slower. While sending an e-mail is faster, easier, and not as personal.Both forms f communication have the ability to tell someone something, and most people like receiving a letter whether handwritten or by e-mail. E-mailing someone Isn't as personal as handwriting a letter. If someone writes the president a letter he might actually take the time to sit down and read it. Handwriting the letter versus e-malign It to him lets him know someone actually took the time to sit down and think about what they were going to write.If they e-mail him most likely someone who works for helm will read It first and ask him If he wants to read It, and here are probably millions of people who e-mail him, so he probably wont read every single one. So, there might be a better chance if the letter is handwritten because it seems as if they really want the president to hear what they have to say. The time frame it takes to actually sit down and write a letter does take longer than e-mailing someone. If you were to e-mail someone you can use abbreviations such as † 101†³, â€Å"ward†, † be, and â€Å"TTYL†. Sing abbreviations like these are quicker, easier and more time efficient even though they may not be considered proper rammer. Although handwritten are not as short as e-mails they are most likely to have better grammar, and usually more detailed. When people get on the computer, they probably are doing more than one thing at a time so their e-mail Is short, If they are more focused on something else. If someone Is handwriting a letter they take the time to sit down and Just focus on that and more thoughts may come to their head to write down.So yes, e-mailing is more beneficial for time frames but it may not be beneficial to everything you want to say. Something that is similar about these two thing is they both get the message across. No matter if it takes an hour to write or five minutes to type, the recipient is still receiving a letter or e-mail. Also if the recipient received a fully detailed letter or an extremely short message, they may have not gotten everything you planned to say but they got the idea of what you were trying to say.It may take you two days to receive your letter in the mail rather than getting it by e-mail in ten minutes but either way you are still receiving it . People now may take advantage of e-malign because It Is faster and easier. It may be because people are too lazy to write a letter or they Just don't have time. Some people may just stick to handwriting letters because they don't like the idea of all the new technology Ana want t o stick to tenet 010 ways. Bettor ten Internet people only knew how to write letters by hand. In the end it comes down to what you prefer, e- mailing or handwriting a letter.

Evolution American Government, Bill of Rights Essay

Evolution American Government, Bill of Rights - Essay Example Though the articles anticipated a perpetual confederation, it gave the Congress very little powers that would help it fund it as well as enforce its resolutions. America had neither a president nor a national court. The articles helped in solving some western issues, since lands owned by different states were given up to be under the government.2 The confederation was regaining its prosperity when the British called off its blockade in 1783. However, there still a lot of problems since most states were still heavily indebted, and there were also a lot of political unrest in a number of states. The Congress, however, was hardly able to redeem the debts which had come as a result of the war. It also had too little power to enforce cooperation among the states, thereby slowing down economic development. In fact, the state government’s stability was shaken by the 1786-87 Shay’s Rebellion that occurred in western Massachusetts.3 The nation was in total mess, especially finan cially, and it seriously needed a body that could control its navigation laws. However, each state acted as a lone ranger when dealing with the British government. In addition, the Congress was still unable to control manufacturing and shipping, and state legislatures had little or no interest to protect private contracts, by 1787. When he was Washington’s executive aide, Alexander Hamilton saw the need for a stronger government, especially if foreign intervention was something to be avoided. This is just one of the indications that the articles were facing an inevitable revision. The need for a quick remedy saw Hamilton calling a convention, with like-minded people, in Philadelphia in 1786.4 The Articles contained a lot of problems. This central government was simply unstable: It could not control its taxes, since every state was still sovereign and independent. This led to its primary problem,

To What Extent Were Women Victims of National Socialism Essay

To What Extent Were Women Victims of National Socialism - Essay Example The era is also criticised and condemned for confining the role of the women from social, economic and corporate fields to the four walls of their houses, where they were meant to conceive the children of this superior German race, and to serve and soothe their husbands on their return from the jobs and battlefields as well. Kolingsky (1993) submits to state that the woman under Nazi Germany had been assigned the only task of sustaining and maintaining their beauty in order to attract their husbands or lovers for conceiving children. It was not a novel thing for the females, as â€Å"the female bird preens herself for the male, and hatches the egg for him. In return, the male provides the food.† Before embarking upon the topic under analysis, it would be advisable to look into the history of inclusion and exclusion of women in professional activities outside their homes. German Women 1871—1933: The disintegrated Prussian states had launched a long and dedicated struggle in order to turn the dream of united Germany into reality. They had to win three successive battles against Denmark, Austria-Hungary, and France in 1864, 1866 and 1871 respectively in order to accomplish the arduous unification process of the shattered Prussian states under one banner and in one unit. German Iron-Chancellor Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898) was determined to make his country as the leader of the world in all aspects. Consequently, he assured the active participation of men and women in various occupations. Bismarck had played the decisive role in the upsurge of the German nation, and Kaiser Wilhelm II turned the country into a tremendous military and economic giant of the entire region for the future years to come. He did not confine the flow of progress to men only; on the contrary, he invited women folk too to step forwards and render their valuable contributions to their nation on the basis of their educational qualifications, experiences, and skills. As a result, w omen started working shoulder to shoulder with the male folk in the health, education and nursing sectors, and even military services of the country too. Imperial Germany, under the Reichstag, promoted an active female role as teachers, nurses, soldiers and political activists (Mahajan, 2002). Although the courageous and dauntless political and strategic policies devised by the then German leadership during 1871 to 1914 turned the country into a marvellous state of Europe, and invited and included all strata of society, including men, women, young and old into nation-building programmes, yet the entire developments made by the political leadership in order to make Germany as unchallenged created rivalries against the constantly rising economy. However, rapid industrialization also invited the high crime rate, urbanization and prostitution etc in its wake. The disquiet caused by these factors was simultaneously exacerbated in Germany by the increasingly vociferous demands of the Germ an women’s movement which emerged most strongly at the turn of the century. (Rowe, 1995)  

Using AIUs survey responses from the AIU data set, complete the Research Paper - 1

Using AIUs survey responses from the AIU data set, complete the following requirements in the form of a report - Research Paper Example Political issues include: the candidate who is most preferable or which party is most preferable. Looking at the pools from Gallup politics website on people’s preferable party, the number of people who took part in the political poll in as compared to the number in the population is; Using polls from http://www.gallup.com/Home.aspx, it is evident that 95% of the respondent participated in the survey on US Economic confidence. This survey was conducted through phone interviews with phone numbers selected in random and consisted of 3, 546 adults. The results indicate that the data is reliable as a large number of respondents participated and they were selected in random (GALLUP, 2013). In the tree surveys, the sample size used is 3,546 for the general survey, 20,800 adults for the political survey and 1,010 for entertainment survey. The sample size that is most appropriate is the large sample as it gives a more accurate data. However, this should be applied when there is ample time to conduct the survey. The study concentrates on the younger age group of between 18 and 24 years which is advisable as this is the group that is likely to give better information on the subject. The other group is like a control group for comparison. This is helpful in getting more accurate

Problem Analysis and Project Proposal Work Sheet Research Paper

Problem Analysis and Project Proposal Work Sheet - Research Paper Example The funding on many occasions during the recessions seems to be on a difficult side for many of the small scale entrepreneurship. As a result the company often ends up not completely being successful on achieving milestones of growth and expansion they might have anticipated. 1.2 Background History that Set the Problem Calsoft group and provides outsourced product engineering services to both established companies and start ups. It was a firm set up in 1992 to provide accelerate the development of software products and reduce time to market through its high-end software engineering skills in cutting-edge technologies, proven processes, methodologies and tools. Their full life cycle services include product development, testing & QA, sustenance engineering, embedded hardware design and embedded software development (Calsoft). Since the founding of the Calsoft in 1992 the company has gone through ups and downs, and accomplished quiet many acquisitions. In 2004 the have acquired 100% stake in Webspectrum Software Ltd., Bangalore, India. They started to grow as an international concern in the year 2005 by setting up the operations in Dubai, and acquired majority holdings of Informed Decisions Corp., Alameda.CA and American HealthNet (AHN)’Omaha, Nebraska. 2006-’07 saw again more of the a cquisition of majority stakes many firms such as Acquired majority stake in Inatech Infosolutions London, UK & Bangalore, India and Aspire Communications Mysore, India & San Jose, USA.

Leadership and Steve Jobs Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Leadership and Steve Jobs - Research Paper Example During his stay at Apple, Steve Jobs was praised due to his ability to structure the strategies of the company and its goals into an appealing story. The ability was evident through his ability to structure a coherent and a highly compelling narrative that merged the mission and the values being pursued, which was a key theme as a strategy for Apple. Based on the storytelling abilities of Steve Jobs and the management of the company, the narratives have resulted in the development of highly effective marketing movements and campaigns. One of these marketing campaigns is the â€Å"think different† series of advertisements, which offered the company, a platform from which they could distinguish themselves from competing companies (Lashinsky & Burke, 2009). Through the storytelling and idea packaging abilities, Jobs was able to structure the visions of the company, about its products – in ways that different stakeholders could identify with. For example, Jobs projected the vision of developing user-friendly computers that would change the lives of people like the telephone and automobiles had done, which the company realized (Lashinsky & Burke, 2009). This characteristic is evidenced by the ability of a leader, to develop meanings around factors, forces and trends that are external to the business, and then utilise the knowledge to develop models and to formulate business strategies that differentiate the business from others. Following Steve Job’s ability to seize available and upcoming opportunities, Steve Jobs was able to align the Apple Company to the external environment of the organization to develop opportunities (Dalrymple, 2009). Following his outlook, Jobs was able to tell that the niche in the personal computing was not large enough for the company to exploit. Following the realization, Jobs was able to foresee the