Ethics Game Reflective Journal free essay sample

Ethical dilemmas surface daily in professional nursing practice. Whether you work in acute care, long-term care, hospice care, ambulatory care, managed care, or public health care chances are you will be responsible for making decisions in a situation of ethical concern. The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the ethical issues presented in the Ethics Game simulation, the decision-making process used to determine the solution to the dilemma, and apply concepts from the Ethical Lenses to my work place. Ethical Dilemmas Presented The first case presented in the Ethics Game simulation involves a pregnant minor and her parents. Rachel Banks, a pregnant16 year old female who arrived at the hospital has been in labor for more than 10 hours. Her parents decided to limit the amount of medication and medical treatment she received. According to her brother, her parents were punishing her for getting pregnant out of wedlock by withholding pain medication and medical treatment (EthicalGame. We will write a custom essay sample on Ethics Game Reflective Journal or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page com, LLC, 2007). Given the length of her labor and the limited access to medical treatment by her parents, I am concerned about the risk of irreversible medical danger without the implementation of medical interventions. The ethical issue in this case is how to ensure a safe delivery and provide adequate medical attention to both the mother and baby. The second dilemma concerned same-sex relationships and noncompliance with hospital policy. Alan Trottier was brought to the hospital by his domestic partner, Yves St. Martin and was admitted to the ICU. Alan was unconscious for days without a definitive diagnosis and the shift supervisor was restricting Yves access to his partner. Hospital policy states that domestic partners are to be treated equally as married couples. Domestic partners with durable power of attorney, or other legal documentation certifying their partnership, or one partys legal right to make medical decisions on behalf of the other, are to be a) given access to visit their artner as family members. Given disclosure of medical procedures or tests conducted on their partner, and c) given the right to approve or disapprove of decisions pertaining to those procedures or tests as family members (EthicsGame. com, LLC, Dilemma #2: The case of polices and politics e-mail #1, para 2). The ethical issue in this case is how to ensure domestic partners are treated fairly and equally as traditionally married couples. Decision Making Process An organized decision making process was utilized to make ethical decisions in the cases of the trouble teen and polices and politics. Step 1 : identify the issue in the ethical dilemma. Step 2: identify the stakeholders. Step 3: identify duties, basic rights, impact on basic rights, and impact on stakeholders. Step 4: identify the option that best reflects the core values in the case. Step 5: explain your solution to the ethical dilemma in a way that reflects your core values. Using this decision making process I determined the solution to the ethical dilemma of the troubled teen, to involve the assigned nurse and the parents in assessing the need for medical intervention and provide contacts for continued support and education. In the second case of policies and politics, I determined the solution to the ethical dilemma, document in Alains chart that Yves is to be granted access to Alain according to the hospital policy that domestic partners are to be treated the same as traditional married couples. In addition, I would notify supervision that hospital policy was not followed by the shift supervisor. Ethical Lens The Rights/Responsibility and Results lenses were used in the simulation to determine a solution to the ethical dilemma in the troubled teen case. The Rights/Responsibility lens focuses on the duties we have for our community, defining an ethical action as doing ones duty and following ethical standards of action. The Results lens focuses on the results we want in our community and how our actions contribute to the greater good of the community. The Results lens considers an act ethical if it creates the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Looking through these lenses I determined the best option for the scenario, ensuring the a safe delivery for the mother and baby. The Relationship and Reputation lenses were used in the simulation to determine a solution to the ethical dilemma in policies and politics case. The Relationship lens focuses on whether the processes we have set up in our community are just and remind us that the connection between individuals make up a community. The Reputation lens focuses on whether we are demonstrating the virtues that are valued by our community for people who are in our role. Looking through the Reputation lens an act is considered ethical if it is consistent with ethical behavior. Using the Relationship and Reputation lenses I determined the best option for the scenario, ensuring Yves access to Alan and notifying supervision that hospital policy was not followed. Ethical Lens Concepts Used In The Workplace In my workplace I face difficult ethical decisions associated with patient care and the policies set forth by the home care agency. This simulation allowed me to recognize my own personal values, such as equality and compassion, which influence my decisions. The Ethics Game simulation allowed me to examine the decision making process used to tackle difficult ethical dilemmas. Identifying my personal values and gaining knowledge of the Ethical Lenses allows me to minimize unnecessary conflict at work and deal directly with the situation at hand. Conclusion Facing ethical decisions daily can place added stress on overworked nurses. Being prepared to make decisions in an ethical dilemma helps reduce stress. The Ethical Game simulation allowed me to identify the issue and provided a systematic approach to solving the ethical dilemma. Using the four different ethical lenses allowed me to gain knowledge and insight into solving the ethical dilemmas I may face in my work place.