Disaster Dilemma
Dilemmas in Disaster. What's a Nurse Manager To Do?
Charlotte McKamie
Texas A&M
Administrative Theories
NSG 520
Aune
November , 2012
Abstract
This paper considers some of the ethical dilemmas that occur during disasters and how the chaos and desperation of those situations effect decision making for nurse managers.
Dilemmas in Disaster. What's a Nurse Manager To Do?
In July of 2006, two nurses and a doctor were charged with murder as a result of their actions during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. This charge was related to their administration of iv pain medicine and iv sedation to critically ill elderly patients, who subsequently died before evacuation was possible Based on evidence from witnesses, Louisiana’s declared their actions to be homicide. ("The free library," December 2006)
Due to the intense nature of their work, nurse managers face a variety of ethical dilemmas throughout the course of their careers. That process evolves to a new level in times of disaster. As nurse manager, it is incumbent upon you to use sound judgment and professional critical thinking to make those decisions at a time when your emotional responses are likely to be at their most pronounced state of your career. This can be extremely difficult due to the subjective nature of the concept of right and wrong. As a manager, you are not only responsible for your own decision making, but for observing and guiding your staff to appropriately make their own.
Ethics in the field of medicine, or “bioethics” is founded on four basic principles; which are beneficence, non-maleficence, respect for autonomy, and justice. The priority of these principles may change with different circumstances, such as in disasters, which sometimes may lead to challenges that are quite different from usual medical practices. In addition, disaster situations are related with public health ethics and may require stronger effort to achieve a balance between individual and collective rights.
Charlotte McKamie
Texas A&M
Administrative Theories
NSG 520
Aune
November , 2012
Abstract
This paper considers some of the ethical dilemmas that occur during disasters and how the chaos and desperation of those situations effect decision making for nurse managers.
Dilemmas in Disaster. What's a Nurse Manager To Do?
In July of 2006, two nurses and a doctor were charged with murder as a result of their actions during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. This charge was related to their administration of iv pain medicine and iv sedation to critically ill elderly patients, who subsequently died before evacuation was possible Based on evidence from witnesses, Louisiana’s declared their actions to be homicide. ("The free library," December 2006)
Due to the intense nature of their work, nurse managers face a variety of ethical dilemmas throughout the course of their careers. That process evolves to a new level in times of disaster. As nurse manager, it is incumbent upon you to use sound judgment and professional critical thinking to make those decisions at a time when your emotional responses are likely to be at their most pronounced state of your career. This can be extremely difficult due to the subjective nature of the concept of right and wrong. As a manager, you are not only responsible for your own decision making, but for observing and guiding your staff to appropriately make their own.
Ethics in the field of medicine, or “bioethics” is founded on four basic principles; which are beneficence, non-maleficence, respect for autonomy, and justice. The priority of these principles may change with different circumstances, such as in disasters, which sometimes may lead to challenges that are quite different from usual medical practices. In addition, disaster situations are related with public health ethics and may require stronger effort to achieve a balance between individual and collective rights.
References: Barnett, J. (1986, Sept. ). Ethical dilemmas in nursing. Journal of medical ethics, 123-126. Concern raised about patient care. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.pb.org Hurricane katrina, triage, and the memorial hospital story: ethical implications for american health care. (2009). Retrieved from http://bilgrimage.blogspot.com Karadag, O. C., & Hakan, K. A. (2012). Ethical diemmas in disaster medicine. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, 14(10), 1-11. Retrieved from www.ircmj.com Making ethical decisions during disaster. (December 2006). Retrieved from http://www.thefreelibrary.com