Clinical Ethics Handbook for Nurses: Emphasizing Context, Communication and Collaboration

This handbook provides tools for nurse educators, ethics educators, practicing nurses, and allied health professionals to develop confidence and skill in ethical decision-making in interdisciplinary settings. It is useful for all healthcare personnel who face ethical issues and work with nurses to resolve them, with a focus on the concerns of nurses internationally. Nurses in acute and chronic care settings face many obstacles to providing good care, and this resource aims to develop moral agency and address broader barriers to good care.

Format: Hardback
Length: 258 pages
Publication date: 05 May 2022
Publisher: Springer

This comprehensive handbook is designed to equip nurse educators, ethics educators, practicing nurses, and allied health professionals with the necessary tools and skills to confidently and competently make ethical decisions in interdisciplinary settings, including acute and chronic care hospitals and clinics. Its relevance extends to all healthcare personnel who encounter ethical dilemmas in their work and collaborate with nurses to resolve them. While the content is rooted in a US context, it also addresses the concerns of nurses globally, emphasizing their unique roles and challenges.

Nurses working in acute and chronic care environments face numerous hurdles that hinder their ability to deliver optimal care. These challenges arise from various factors, including institutional barriers, sociocultural factors, and inadequate communication. Institutional challenges include inadequate resources, staffing shortages, and outdated policies and procedures. Sociocultural factors include patient preferences, cultural differences, and language barriers that can impact patient care. Inadequate communication can lead to miscommunication, errors, and delays in care, which can have serious consequences for patients.

Despite these obstacles, evidence suggests that nurses possess the knowledge and skills to address practice problems of various kinds. However, they may lack confidence in their abilities to make ethical decisions and advocate for their patients. This handbook aims to empower nurses with the moral agency to represent the interests of individuals and address broader barriers to good care that arise at the local, community, or social levels.

The handbook is organized into four sections. The first section provides an overview of ethical decision-making in interdisciplinary settings, including the principles of ethics, ethical theories, and ethical frameworks. The second section focuses on specific ethical issues that nurses may encounter in acute and chronic care settings, such as end-of-life care, patient autonomy, confidentiality, and informed consent. The third section offers practical strategies and tools for making ethical decisions, including critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. The fourth section provides examples and case studies to illustrate the application of ethical principles in real-world situations.

In conclusion, this handbook is a valuable resource for nurse educators, ethics educators, practicing nurses, and allied health professionals who seek to develop confidence and skill in ethical decision-making in interdisciplinary settings. Its comprehensive coverage of ethical issues, practical strategies, and case studies ensures that healthcare personnel can provide high-quality care that is grounded in ethical principles. By empowering nurses with the moral agency to represent the interests of individuals and address broader barriers to good care, this handbook contributes to the improvement of healthcare outcomes and the overall well-being of patients and their families.

Weight: 576g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789402421538
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022