Another instance is like when the mother of a newborn baby chose to be indifferent to her child that was born prematurely. After the baby developed complications, the mother refused to accept the child and decided to give it up for adoption. The nurses found themselves torn between concern for the child and respecting the mother’s decision. Since the code of ethics emphasizes the right to choice and dignity, the nurses could handle a difficult situation.
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Ethical Challenges in Nursing
Nurse jobs have been consistently voted among the top 10 professions in America for the 11th consecutive year, embodying honesty and high ethical standards. Specialization in nursing ethics may come in handy when serving on ethics committees of hospitals or in education and public health initiatives. Irrespective of whether a nurse qualifies through online nursing programs, only on-the-job training and experience can help hone skills in handling dilemmas.
Initial job dissatisfaction is common in the profession due to the difficult ethical challenges thrown by an environment where death and chronic illness are an everyday experience. Safeguarding patient’s rights and giving them the required support in end-of-life decisions can be a very draining aspect of a nursing career. Nursing programs and a nursing education can only teach the theoretical aspects of the ethics code.
Need For Ethical Training
Studies have found that an LPN program or RN program that provides intensive ethical training to its students has been beneficial in helping them deal with moral dilemmas in a controlled manner. If the nursing education imparted has been lax in stressing the importance of a strong ethical foundation (PDF), the individual may not be able to make a success of their nursing career.
When signing up for online LPN programs or online RN programs, it is essential to verify whether they offer a comprehensive curriculum which includes ethical training. The training in ethics should start with the inception of the course in nursing schools, be it an LPN program or a RN program. An example would be getting students to write their own academic papers instead of sourcing it from elsewhere. This will help them evolve as professionals (PDF) who are aware of their responsibilities towards the well-being of others. An individual who is not committed to their own education cannot be trusted with the life of another.