Ethical or moral healthcare issues in NICU

Trauma Columnist · Sep 25, 2007

By their definition, ethics and morals can involve controversy. DOn't be afraid it...take a stand and present your viewpoint. Good luck.

travelingkind · Sep 27, 2007

Be bold. Be controversial. There are few ethical dilemmas that happen in the NICU that aren't controversial. The admitting board will see that you struggle with stuff. We all do.

The good thing is that we have a board of ethics at our facility. It is made up of nurses, Docs, chaplains, and administration. They convene and make recommendations to families based on what ethical issue arises. In our NICU, it is often the baby that makes the decision before the parents ever get around to it.

I once told the family of my primary (who died soon after this conversation) that many of the nurses had ethical issues in caring for their child. That the baby was on more sedation, pain, paralytic meds than any kid we had ever had in the NICU. This was my baby, I had raised him for 9 months, and I would be by their side. The ethics committee was to meet regarding this child, but the baby died the morning of the meeting. Of course this stuff is controversial. It is hard. My spouse is a hospital chaplain and has to deal with death A LOT more than I do.

Good luck with your admission paper. It seems that they want you to see who you are.

Travelingkind

fmrnicumom · Sep 27, 2007

I agree, take a stand. Don't be afraid of a topic being controversial, because (as has been said) ethics tend to be controversial. They are more than likely looking for you to take a stand and back it up. Good luck! :)

Tiffany