Ethics help!

[KatieFRN]

So I'm wondering what to do in this case. If a patient wants more options of treatment than what their doctor suggests, is a nurse allowed to give information on alternative treatments? The dr doesn't want to offer or talk about other treatments because he doesn't believe in them.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

KatieFRN said:

I didn't realize it would make a difference in the outcome. However, I apologize if you think I was being deceitful for some reason. That was not my intention

Here's the deal: When you post homework, the discussion is much more fruitful if you tell us what YOU have done so far.

[Extra Pickles]

KatieFRN said:

I'm not sure if that was suppose to be an insult or not. But yes, I am an RN and not on TV. However, I was approached to take professional pictures for a nursing textbook. Apparently some of them are real nurses too...

Yes it is homework, I am not looking for an answer on here, but insight. I am not working in a hospital because I do not have my BSN. All of these ethics questions are difficult. I'd like to answer with my gut, but wondering if there is a "real" solution.

Not meant as an insult at all, only meant as a quip, guess it fell flat. Reason for the quiip in the first place was that sometimes people do post with RN, LPN, nurse whatever in their user IDs and they aren't nurses at all but wannabes. It does make a difference in how we approach the person who is posting the question, whether they are already a nurse or "playing one". No offense intended toward you.

Regarding the homework thing, the reason it makes a difference in addition to what was already posted is that it's nice to know when taking the time to respond to someone if we are helping a colleague out of a sticky situation, or helping with homework. Sometimes we will take the time for one but not the other, and no one likes to feel like they were used to get someone else's assignment done. No harm done, just that's the reason why people can get miffed when they aren't told upfront about whether it is homework or not. I will more often than not take the time to help a colleague who is stuck, others will stop and help a student first. Good to know which one it is!