Ethics and Issues in Contemporary Nursing Related

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The Health Care Reform Act provides insurance for all U.S. citizens and legal residents presenting far-reaching ethical considerations related to diverse individual patient health care beliefs for those delivering nursing care. Nurses must consider their civil rights under the rights of conscience and how new health care agendas such as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) could affect their practice in situations that may conflict with their own belief system. Today's practicing nurse must:

  • A. remember it is one's professional duty to render patient-centered care"even when it is in direct conflict with the nurse's own beliefs"or be held liable for withholding treatment.
  • B. consider whether the right to act according to one's inner beliefs will continue to be permissible when federal health insurance becomes fully enacted.
  • C. discuss with the patient and family different options in hopes they will accept the nurse's health care beliefs.
  • D. suggest to the hospital administration that they not accept federal funding to prevent controversial health practices.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for why answer A is correct:
1. Professional duty: Nurses have a duty to provide patient-centered care regardless of personal beliefs.
2. Legal liability: Withholding treatment based on personal beliefs can lead to legal consequences.
3. Ethical considerations: Nurses must prioritize patient care over personal beliefs.
4. Rights of conscience: Nurses may have the right to refuse to participate in certain treatments, but they must still ensure patient care.
5. Patient-centered care: Nurses must respect patient autonomy and provide care based on the patient's wishes.

Summary of why the other choices are incorrect:
B. Irrelevant to the nurse's duty to provide patient-centered care.
C. Nurses should not impose their beliefs on patients but should respect and support their choices.
D. Suggesting the hospital not accept federal funding does not address the nurse's duty to provide patient-centered care.