Educate the EducatorHealthcare Ethics

• This module emphasizes the use of sound ethical practices in healthcare.

• Ethical practices and standards include the care of clients/individuals and interactions with peers, colleagues, team members, and family members.

• Ethical frameworks are provided for discussion on understanding the types of ethical challenges in healthcare and the difficult decisions that need to be made.

Healthcare Ethics Module Description

The curriculum for this module is broken into 2 parts, Values and Ethics.

It is important to discuss with students the definition and development of values and their own personal values.

General Teaching Notes

The following statements can help distinguish the difference between values and ethics and provide guidance throughout the module.

• All human interactions are value-based, guide our behavior, and tell us right from wrong.

• Values are essential to ethics. Ethics are concerned with human actions, and the choice of those actions.

• Ethics evaluates those actions, and the values which created them. It determines which values should be pursued, and which shouldn't.

• Ethics is a code of values.

General Teaching Notes

This module consists of 5 competencies.

Each competency is divided into unit competencies with learning activities to help students master the competency.

Each learning activity is explained on the Module Outline and the resources are described

Choose the learning activities that best meet your classroom needs.

Module Outline and Instructor Resources

Find these learning activities and resources on the website or create your own.

The Course Outline also has documents that the instructor can use in teaching the lesson.

These competencies are listed on the following slide and will then be addressed throughout the remainder of the power point.

Module Outline and Instructor Resources

1. Describe dimensions of values as they impact healthcare.

2. Describe basic principles of professional relationships.

3. Describe aspects of ethical decision making in health care.

4. Explain how an individual’s diversity, socioeconomic or religious beliefs could lead to potential ethical differences from other health care employees.

5. Using an ethical decision making model applied to healthcare situations, describe how ethics influence the care of clients.

Module Competencies

Competency 5

Using an ethical decision making model applied to health care situations, describe how ethics influence the care of clients.

Unit included for this competency include:• Define ethical dilemmas.• Discuss current ethical dilemmas.• Discuss problem solving as it relates to ethical decision making.

Competency 5

Recommended Content

Ask.com defines an ethical dilemma as “a situation wherein moral precepts or ethical obligations conflict in such a way that any possible resolution to the dilemma is morally intolerable. In other words, an ethical dilemma is any situation in which guiding moral principles cannot determine which course of action is right or wrong.”

Ethical Dilemmas Definition

Responsible ethical reasoning is rational and systematic; should be based on ethical principles and codes rather than on emotions, intuition, fixed policies, or precedent. (Precedent is an earlier similar occurrence.)

Good decision is in client’s best interest and preserves the integrity of all involved.

Ethical Dilemmas Definition

The healthcare worker must weigh competing factors when making ethical decisions because of the ethical obligations to clients, the employing agency, and to physicians.

Because several people are involved in ethical decision-making, communication and compromise are important skills for all health professionals.

Integrity-preserving compromises are likely collaborative decision-making.

Ethical Dilemmas Definition

Over the course of time as value and ethics have changed, society continues to be

presented with ever changing ethical dilemmas. For example, were abortions an

ethical dilemma before Roe vs. Wade? Some of the current health care ethical

dilemmas are that of end of life care , genetic testing, quality vs quantity of life, organ

donation, final trimester abortions, etc.

Current Ethical Dilemmas

Recommended Learning Activities

Current Ethical Dilemmas

Assignment Location Notes

HCE Competency 5 Scenarios Bioethical Case Studies

Website This learning activity contains 6 scenarios with questions to answer regarding bioethical issues. Topics include DNR, HIV, Labor, Medication, Immunizations and Anorexia.

Grey’s Anatomy Ethical Dilemma YouTube Video

Class Discussion

Problem Solving

• Identify the problem

• Gather information

• Identify ethical issue

• Is there more than one

problem

• Are there competing ethical

claims?

• Any conflict of personal values?

• Any conflict of professional

values?

• Create alternative solutions

• Select and act on solution

• Evaluate and revise as needed

Recommended Content

The problem solving process can be broken down into 10 steps.

Recommended Learning Activities

Problem Solving

Assignment Location Notes

HCE Competency 5: Scenarios Ethical Case Study

Website This learning activity contains 4 short scenarios in which students answer questions surrounding the scenarios.

College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia (CRNBC). (2011). Practice standard principles. Retrieved from https://www.crnbc.ca/Standards/ClientRelationships/Pages/Default.asp

Hegner, B.R., Acello, B., & Caldwell, E. (2004). Nursing assistant: A nursing process approach (9th ed.). Clifton Park, NY: Thompson Delmar Publishing

Lane, A. (2009). The importance of accountability. Retrieved from http://EzineArticles.com/3471801

References

Potter, P.A. & Perry, A.G. (2009). Ethics and values. In P.A. Potter & A.G. Perry (Eds.). Fundamentals of nursing (7th ed.) (pp. 313-342). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier, Mosby

Ramon, P.R. & Niedringhaus, D. M. (2008). Legal and ethical issues of nursing. Fundamental nursing care (2nd ed.) (pp. 25-44). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Person Prentice Hall

Weiss, T.C. (2009, July 21). Certified Nursing Assistant Code of Ethics. Retrieved from http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/caregivers/cna-code-ethics.ph

References

Author: Dede Carr, BS, CDA, LDA

Pat Reinhart, RN

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