Exam 6: Ethics in Community Health Nursing Practice

A physician refuses to order pain medication for a person with a substance use disorder who was severely injured in a car accident. When the CHN requests medication to be used p.r.n., the physician states that the client's suffering from the pain of his injuries will build character. What ethical theory is the physician using (or misusing)?

A CHN has been asked to meet with a couple who recently emigrated from Botswana. The clinic doctor told the man about his wife's diagnosis of breast cancer, and the couple was about to leave. Although all of the following actions by the CHN might be appropriate, which is the most important action, ethically?

In which year and by whom was the first code of ethics for nursing written?

A man, bleeding profusely and screaming, perhaps out of fear, cries out "I've got a right to see a doctor. I'm hurt. Someone has to take care of me!" What ethical premise could justify such a demand?

A team of CHNs disagree about the appropriate action to take in relation to a family with an ill family member who have chosen to continue working at their jobs instead of take time off to care for the ill family member. One CHN asks, "What sort of example does this behaviour set for the community? What if everyone always put their jobs before their families?" What type of thinking is this CHN applying?

What is the first and most crucial step in the ethical decision-making process?

What outcome needs to occur in order to claim that advocacy has been truly successful or effective?

What is the best way to determine if a CHN has been effective in assessing community health needs and planning and implementing appropriate interventions?

After hearing the debates about an appropriate course of action for a specific client, a CHN expresses a desire for a rule that would help with decision making. What criteria could the CHN apply to this rule for his or her decision making?

Gilligan and Noddings both believe in the morality of responsibility in relationships. They emphasize connection. What term describes this belief?

A team of CHNs disagree about the appropriate action to take in relation to a family with an ill family member who have chosen to continue working at their jobs instead of take time off to care for the ill family member. A CHN states, "It's not up to us; it's the family's decision." What type of thinking is this CHN applying?

A community health nurse (CHN) facing an ethical dilemma is not able to determine which option would have the best outcome. She talks to her supervisor and lets the supervisor decide which action to take. Into which ethical category does the CHN's decision fall?

Much ethical debate has revolved around issues in acute health care, for example, the continuation or withdrawal of medical treatment. In such a specific situation, what is typically the dominant concern?

A team of CHNs disagree about the appropriate action to take in relation to a family with an ill family member who have chosen to continue working at their jobs instead of take time off to care for the ill family member. One CHN states, "But it doesn't have to be either-or. Perhaps the family members could take turns calling in sick for just 2 or 3 days. That way, they could all help and yet not upset their employers. Wouldn't that be fair?" What type of thinking is this CHN applying?

A pregnant teenage client asks a CHN to provide information on abortions and a list of health care providers who offer abortion services. The CHN has very strong personal beliefs against abortion that would get in the way of helping the client. What should the CHN do?

A CHN finds that a family has decided to refuse medical intervention for a particular health concern because the intervention could affect the family member's ability to return to work, and consequently the family's resources would be drastically reduced. Which of the following actions by the CHN would ethically be most appropriate in this situation?

Most of us believe that everyone should receive his or her fair share, that one should always be fair, and that each person should be allowed maximum liberty to make decisions about the self. What does such an approach not take into account?

A team of CHNs disagree about the appropriate action to take in relation to a family with an ill family member who have chosen to continue working at their jobs instead of take time off to care for the ill family member. One CHN states, "It is the wife's responsibility to care for her ill husband." What type of thinking is this CHN applying?

A team of CHNs disagree about the appropriate treatment for Mrs. Mehta, who is likely an excellent candidate for hospice care. The first CHN says that deciding on care, rather than cure, is up to Mrs. Mehta, and no one else can decide for her. The second CHN says that it is the responsibility of the health care team to do what is best for Mrs. Mehta, and if the physician thinks there is still a possibility of cure, then the CHNs should do everything they can to implement the treatment plan. The third CHN says it is not fair for the family to expend all their resources on Mrs. Mehta, who is probably going to die in spite of the care provided by the health care team. What conclusions can be drawn from this dispute?

What is the central, most important concept or action in nursing today?