Question

The nurse may come across many ethical dilemmas. To resolve them, it is important to distinguish ethical problems from other problems. Which are characteristics of an ethical problem? Select all that apply.

A. It cannot be solved solely through literature review.
B. It cannot be easily reasoned with logic.
C. The answer to the problem has profound relevance for patient care.
D. The problem can be solved by critical thinking.
E. The problem involves only hospital management

Answer 1

Ethical problems in nursing are characterized by their reliance on moral reasoning, difficulty in being solved through logic alone, relevance to patient care, and the requirement for critical thinking. They involve multiple stakeholders and cannot be resolved through literature review or solely by hospital management.

Step-by-step explanation:

Characteristics of Ethical Problems in Nursing

When identifying characteristics of an ethical problem in nursing, it is essential to consider various traits that differentiate them from non-ethical problems. Firstly, an ethical problem cannot be solved solely through literature review; it often requires more than just the information available in texts. This is because ethical issues involve values, beliefs, and principles that are not solely based on empirical evidence but also on moral reasoning.

Secondly, ethical problems are such that they cannot be easily reasoned with logic alone. They involve complex human emotions and subjective judgments, which can make a logical approach insufficient. Moreover, the answers to ethical problems have profound relevance for patient care because they impact the well-being and rights of patients, which brings them to the forefront of nursing considerations.

While critical thinking is certainly part of solving an ethical dilemma (the problem can be solved by critical thinking to an extent), it also often involves a careful balance of ethical principles, such as autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice, as well as consideration for the culture, values, and preferences of those involved.

The last option that the problem involves only hospital management is not a characteristic of an ethical problem. Ethical issues typically involve a broader range of stakeholders, including patients, families, healthcare teams, and society at large.

In the context of nursing and medical decision-making, applied ethics, and particularly care ethics, emphasize the importance of traits like compassion and responsibility. However, decisions based on care ethics can be complex as they need to accommodate different viewpoints, emotions, and values, while striving for a fair and just solution.