Advocacy in Clinical Settings

Choose a patient-care situation in which the RN should intervene and advocate for the patient.  An example of such a situation might be when a patient has not been given complete informed consent.

Include the following in your paper:

• Describe the clinical situation concisely and descriptively. It can be an actual situation or a hypothetical one.
• Apply the Bioethical Decision Making Model to the specific clinical ethical situation that you choose. Address each section of the model in your paper.
• Conclude with a discussion of nursing advocacy in the clinical setting and the nurse’s role as a patient advocate.

You must reference and cite 1-2 scholarly sources other than your text. Include a title page and a reference page to cite your text and adhere to APA formatting.

Nursing Advocacy in Clinical Settings: An Ethical Dilemma

Introduction: Nursing advocacy is a fundamental component of nursing practice. Nurses serve as patient advocates by advocating for their patient’s rights, autonomy, and well-being. The nurse’s primary responsibility is to ensure that the patient receives the best possible care and treatment, including advocating for informed consent. In this paper, we will describe a clinical situation that requires nursing advocacy, apply the bioethical decision-making model, and discuss nursing advocacy in the clinical setting.

Clinical Situation: A hypothetical situation is presented where a patient is diagnosed with a terminal illness and is undergoing treatment at a hospital. The patient’s family is aware of the patient’s illness and treatment plan, but the patient has not been given complete informed consent. The patient’s physician has not discussed the potential risks and benefits of the treatment, alternative treatment options, and the patient’s right to refuse treatment.

Bioethical Decision Making Model:

1. Identification of the Problem: The problem in this scenario is that the patient has not been given complete informed consent regarding their treatment.
2. Identification of the Bioethical Issues Involved: The bioethical issues involved are autonomy, informed consent, and beneficence. Autonomy refers to the patient’s right to make informed decisions about their care. Informed consent is the process of obtaining permission from the patient to perform medical treatment or procedures. Beneficence is the obligation to do good and avoid harm to the patient.
3. Evaluation of Ethical Principles: The ethical principles involved in this scenario are autonomy, informed consent, and beneficence. Autonomy is the most important ethical principle as it allows the patient to make decisions about their care. Informed consent ensures that the patient understands the potential risks and benefits of the treatment and alternative treatment options. Beneficence ensures that the healthcare provider does not harm the patient and promotes their well-being.
4. Consideration of Alternatives: The nurse should discuss the situation with the patient’s physician and advocate for the patient’s right to complete informed consent. The nurse should also involve the hospital’s ethics committee to ensure that the patient’s rights are protected.
5. Implementation of the Decision: The nurse should ensure that the patient is given complete informed consent before any further treatment is provided. The nurse should also document the situation and report it to the hospital’s ethics committee.
6. Evaluation of the Decision: The nurse should evaluate the decision by monitoring the patient’s progress and ensuring that their rights are protected.