B. Moral Responsibilities
B1. Nurse Responsibility
In the scenario involving Mr. Miles, he communicates with the nurse his wish to not have medical treatment that could compromise his active lifestyle. This patient also refuses dialysis and expresses his desire to have an advanced …show more content…
Miles to have discussed his wished with a trusted physician prior to becoming critically ill (DeNisco, 2016), this would have eliminated much of the confusion about his wishes and the additional burden placed on the health care team as well as Mr. Miles’s family. Unfortunately, in the case of Mr. Miles this was not done. Therefore, if it is determined that Mr. Miles had proper decision-making ability, which potentially could be hard to prove in this care, the nurse could help by calling a meeting with family and physicians. Here the nurse would have the ability to advocate for the patient by conveying his thoughts and wishes, thereby aiding the physicians and family in understanding Mr. Miles end of life …show more content…
ANA Code of Ethics
The American Nurse Association (ANA) Code of Ethics is comprised of nine provisions creating a professional and ethical standard for nursing. The provisions describe the fundamental values and commitment of the nurse, boundaries of nursing duties and loyalty, as well as nurse duties beyond patient encounters. When a nurse incorporates these provisions, their professional presence becomes centered on the patient’s dignity and well-being in addition to the patients’ health. Provision 1 of the ANA Code of Ethics states “The nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every patient.” ("American Nurse Association," 2015, p. 17). This provision in broken down further into subsets. Provision 1.4 relates to the rights patients have in self-determination. This specific provision within the Code of Ethics relates to the scenario involving Mr. Miles, and his request to have a DNR prior to his death. The provision explains that all people have the right to decide what will or will not be done to them. Mr. Miles had the right to refuse dialysis and make decisions regarding his treatment. Provision 4.1 also speaks on the nurse’s obligation to understand the moral and legal rights of patients and to protect and support the decision that the patients make (American Nurse Association, 2015). In the case of Mr. Miles, the nurse is obligated to be supportive of his decisions and to advocate for him once