The Demanding Nature of Nursing

The Demanding Nature of Nursing
Nursing is a demanding profession that requires a deep understanding of ethical and medical principles. Ethical dilemmas are a constant challenge in the nursing profession, particularly when dealing with patients and their personal information. The growing reliance on technology in healthcare has led to a need for nurses to address these issues, as they are responsible for providing better patient care.

Informed Consent and Patient Autonomy
Informed consent is crucial in medical care, as it ensures patients make well-informed decisions about their health. However, neglecting this can lead to issues such as patients' discomfort with treatment, refusal to be treated due to personal beliefs, and decisions regarding life or death. Nurses must ensure patients understand every element of their treatment plans to avoid moral dilemmas and not expose their information.

Patient Privacy and HIPAA
Maintaining patient privacy and confidentiality is a top ethical priority for nurses, as it can have serious legal repercussions if done incorrectly. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) safeguards individuals' medical information, but nurses must respect their patients' autonomy, which allows them to make decisions about their care based on personal or cultural beliefs. This can lead to complications when patients choose to go against their doctor's advice.

Shared Decision-Making in Patient Care
Shared decision-making is more ethical when it comes to patient care than when healthcare professionals have total authority. This allows patients and healthcare professionals to candidly discuss a patient's history, values, beliefs, and culture, promoting trust between patients and physicians. Nursing staff should be aware of the value of patient education, even if the information communicated with patients is complex.

Conflicts with Personal Beliefs
The science-based and goal-oriented nature of healthcare may conflict with personal or religious convictions, as some faiths prohibit life-saving measures and medical interventions. Nursing care focuses on reducing suffering so patients can concentrate on caring for themselves. Patients or their families with firm spiritual and religious beliefs may be more concerned with stringent rules.

Respecting Patient Differences
The ANA Code of Ethics requires nurses to respect their patients' unique differences, including lifestyle and religious beliefs. Respect for the idea does not indicate that the nurse personally endorses those views or activities. If a patient does not understand the treatment, disagreements may arise between patients and the nurses.

Advanced Care Planning and End-of-Life Care
Advanced care planning is a complex topic for healthcare providers, particularly in end-of-life care. Patients have unique healthcare choices and wishes that need to be communicated and respected during medical emergencies. Nurses must prioritize patients' needs and wants, especially when dealing with end-of-life care. The American Nurses Association emphasizes understanding patient histories and unique circumstances to communicate the importance of receiving medical care.

Resource Constraints and Patient Care
Nurses should be aware of the shortage of funding and staffing for patient care, as inadequate resources can lead to patients not receiving proper treatment. Nurses must balance patient needs with financial constraints, as many facilities may not provide essential care due to a shortage of resources. The budgeting process should include staff members to better understand the demands and needs of patients.

Ensuring Patient Privacy with Technology
Patients often fear their information being exposed to third parties, especially those suffering from diseases like HIV. Nurses are responsible for monitoring patient privacy, as technical faults in healthcare technologies can cause issues with accuracy. They must also be aware of the moral issues raised by using technology in healthcare, such as the risk of data compromise or theft.

The Value of Diverse Nursing Perspectives
To address ethical challenges, nursing majors should surround themselves with tenured, skilled nurses who can help them navigate these dilemmas. Working with international nurses, such as those hired by Avant Healthcare Professionals, helps hospital staff understand the range of emotions patients encounter while in the hospital and can be of great help to patients who are reluctant due to their ethnic origins. Organizations can debate ethical concerns thanks to a broad range of nurses, making open discussions more comfortable and understood by patients.

Importance of Collaboration and Leadership
Understanding other nurses' experiences worldwide can lead to unique solutions to ethical problems. If nurses do not appropriately handle ethical issues, there may be deterioration in patient care, hostile clinical interactions, and moral suffering. Majors in nursing experience the most stress surrounding ethical issues, as their nurses look up to them for leadership and mentorship during these tough times. All nursing majors must work together to ensure all acceptable and moral choices are made in accordance with their patients' preferences and best interests.