Nursing ethics question

Bug Out, BSN · Jan 18, 2010

I don't think all RN-BSN programs have it but I believe the vast majority do include it.

As to your second question, no.

There are many many ethical questions that are not simple yes or no answers and a deeper and broader perspective may need to be applied and the tools to critically analyze these questions may not be apparent to the common ASN RN. I would say an ethics class would be of a very high priority to a BSN RN, esp if they intend to get involved in mgt where the ethical debates take on a much different spin.

How about this question for example...

The disabled and commercial sex.

There is a very large disabled community that promotes and advocates for the legalization of prostitution due to their inability or difficulty in gaining and/or maintaining personal and sexual relationships. There are also brothels that specialize in disabled individuals, advertising "wheelchair accessible" etc.

As Nurses we cannot ignore our patient's sexual needs, nor can we (thank god) personally intervene to satisfy them. Therein lies the dilemma.

CASTLEGATES · Jan 18, 2010

I wouldn't know; I'm highly unethical and immoral. )

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Jan 18, 2010

Not all ADN programs teach ethics. Not all BSN students were in ADN program previously. Also, many BSN programs consider graduates to be management material, so should have more exposure to those concepts. Ethics is part of the nursing standards and in my state's nurse practice act. Just grin and bear it.

iteachob, MSN, RN · Jan 18, 2010

I had ethics topic as an undergrad (BSN.....I was never an ADN grad), but didn't get the full "Bioethics" treatment (an entire course) until grad school.

elkpark · Jan 18, 2010

Like many other areas of nursing education, there's an obvious progression -- most ADN programs at least introduce the idea of nursing ethics; BSN programs go into further detail, and graduate programs go into even more detail.