Examples of ethical dilemmas in pediatric nursing?

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For class, I have to write a paper on an ethical dilemma that we observed in our clinical. However, I have only been to clinical once and most of the time was spent on orientation, paperwork and computer training, so there was not really any opportunity for me to see any type of ethical dilemma. If anyone has any ideas, it would help a lot! :)

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When is the paper due? Will you have a chance to go back before the paper is due? If it has to be something you observed, I don't think we can really help you.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Welcome to AN! THe largest online nursing community!

We are happy to help but we need to know what you think first. What has your research revealed to you? Have you Googled ethical dilemmas? Does it have to be peds?

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The paper is due on Friday, but my clinical day is also on Friday so I won't have another chance. I spoke to my instructor, and because I didn't get to see much during clinical, she said I can make up my own dilemma. However, because I have VERY little experience with peds, I don't even know what I would write about.

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I remember doing a rotation in the Pedi ER during nursing school, and we were treating a frequent flyer. She was a teenage girl with cancer receiving chemo, and my preceptor told me that although she had no insurance, her parents would bring her to the ER each week for her nausea. However, they would always do this on the same day she had her next chemo appt so that she would be a direct admit from the ER and had to be treated. I could only assume that her family was struggling financially, but were willing to do whatever necessary to get her the chemo. Idk if that's something that could apply here?? Also I guess you could look up the laws in your state as far as minors being able to seek tx for STDs and pregnancy without their parents consent?? I don't really know what I would write about but I hope this helps

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A very sick but treatable child that your heart goes out to vs parents that because of their religious views, are denying treatment for the child that would otherwise make him right as rain

BAM

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Or the alternative... a child so sick with so many complications that survival is highly unlikely, for whom the parents demand everything be done. How much suffering is enough, and when does the child's best interest trump the parents' wishes?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
The paper is due on Friday, but my clinical day is also on Friday so I won't have another chance. I spoke to my instructor, and because I didn't get to see much during clinical, she said I can make up my own dilemma. However, because I have VERY little experience with peds, I don't even know what I would write about.
Did you click on the link? There are Google results there.

What abut a child of a Jehovah witness who has been in an accident and needs blood and they refuse. Someone who believes in no traditional medicine...like the Amish family that fled the country to escape being forced to give the child chemo for leukemia. Ir the case that was recently on the news. A child declared brain dead and legally dead but the family refusing to remove life support. Use the search feature here and type in Jahi....here I searched it for you....https://allnurses.com/gsearch.php?cx=partner-pub-9350112648257122%3Avaz70l-mgo9&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=UTF-8&q=Jahi

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You guys are wonderful! This has helped a lot. Thank you so much!

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I had similar assignments earlier this semester and was allowed to use ethical dilemmas I was faced with outside of nursing and just had to connect it back either from the way I handled the situation or what I learned from it.

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