- Reinforce the dressing quickly.
- Change the dressing only if the patient complains.
- Prioritize changing the dressing using proper sterile technique to prevent infection, even if it requires delegating other tasks.
- Document that the dressing was changed.
Category: Nursing Ethics
- Forcing Western medicine as superior.
- Dismissing traditional practices as ineffective.
- Respecting cultural beliefs, exploring how traditional practices can complement Western care, and ensuring informed decision-making.
- Telling the patient to choose one or the other.
- Ignore the behavior, as it's the physician's responsibility.
- Confront the physician publicly about hand hygiene.
- Remind the physician of hand hygiene guidelines and, if the behavior persists, report it through appropriate channels.
- Offer hand sanitizer to the physician.
- Beneficence vs. Justice
- Autonomy vs. Non-maleficence
- Veracity vs. Fidelity
- Professional boundaries vs. patient preferences
- Autonomy
- Beneficence
- Non-maleficence
- Justice
- Assume the care plan is up-to-date.
- Update the care plan for the colleague.
- Report the consistent failure to update care plans to the charge nurse or supervisor, as it impacts patient safety and continuity of care.
- Just tell the colleague to update it.
- Prescribe the medication as a favor.
- Refuse and advise the patient to see a physician.
- Explain that prescribing is outside the nursing scope of practice and advise the patient to consult a qualified medical doctor.
- Suggest an over-the-counter medication.
- Disregard the non-verbal cues and proceed with the procedure.
- Reconfirm the patient's understanding and willingness to proceed, and address any new concerns before beginning.
- Assume the signed consent is sufficient.
- Inform the family that the patient is anxious.
- Continue charting, hoping the glitch won't occur.
- Bypass the glitch by using paper charting.
- Immediately report the glitch to IT support and consult with a super-user or colleague for guidance on charting safely.
- Try to fix the glitch independently.
- Administer medication and observe for reactions.
- Hold all medications until the allergy information is confirmed, and actively seek to verify it through reliable sources or the physician.
- Ask the patient if they have allergies.
- Document the missing information and proceed.
- Non-maleficence
- Beneficence
- Autonomy
- Justice
- Force the patient to bathe.
- Ignore the patient's hygiene.
- Educate the patient on the importance of hygiene for health, offer assistance with sensitivity, and respect the patient's autonomy while documenting care.
- Ask the family to bathe the patient.
- Autonomy
- Beneficence
- Non-maleficence
- Justice
- Beneficence
- Non-maleficence
- Autonomy
- Justice
- Confront the colleague privately.
- Report the suspected diversion to the immediate supervisor and/or relevant regulatory bodies.
- Cover for the colleague to avoid repercussions.
- Leave the job to avoid involvement.
- Administer the medication orally.
- Delay medication administration and attempt to clear the NG tube, or notify the physician for alternative orders, to ensure the medication is administered safely and correctly.
- Force the flush to clear the clog.
- Document that the NG tube is clogged and medication was not given.
- Isolate the patient who is making sounds.
- Ask the patient to stop making sounds.
- Provide compassionate care to the patient, educate other patients about the condition, and explore options for a single room if feasible.
- Tell other patients to tolerate it.
