Nursing Ethical Dilemma

[studentnursehelp]

Hello!

I have to write a paper where I analyze an ethical dilemma. I have to list all the possible actions the student nurse can take in the situation. I also have to list the pros and cons of each possible action. Here is the scenario:

You are a nursing student completing a clinical placement. You need assistance with a two-person transfer. An RN offers to help. As you are transferring the patient, the RN comments, "This man is so fat. He should really go on a diet." She makes many remarks right in front of the patient, who is oriented and aware. The patient looks upset but does not say anything.

So what should the student nurse do? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[Clovery]

I would ignore the nurse's comment, direct her attention to completing the task, then say something to her in private afterwards. Like "My instructor told us to never make comments like that about a patient - I felt bad when you said that because that man seemed embarrassed." Then I would be sure to check on the man again, and make sure he's not upset. If he seems okay, I probably wouldn't bring it up again because it'd probably just embarrass him more. If he did seem upset I'd say something like "I'm sorry the nurse was rude to you; she shouldn't have said that." Then if I had the chance and it was appropriate for the patient, I would discuss nutrition and exercise with him, trying to approach the subject in a positive, non-judgmental manner.

Just my student opinion. I don't know if this answer is "right".

[Bob_N_VA]

It seems like an unlikely scenario, but I would keep in mind that you are a student and the RN is probably not going to respond to anything critical you may say to her. If she is that insensitive to a pt, think how she may treat you. Since your responsibility is toward the pt, I would not say anything in front of the pt to the other nurse (though I might cast a very ugly look) and then when finished I would go find the charge nurse and let him/her know what just transpired. Leave it up to the charge nurse or unit manager to approach the pt and make sure there are no hurt feelings or other issues that may pop up later in the form of a letter complaining of the treatment or worse, a lawsuit. Its really one of those "above my paygrade" issues that management should deal with and a student nurse should not. Plus, they need to know if this type of treatment is going on as it is probably not an isolated incident.

[Lifeofanurse]

I don't see this as a true ethical issue. It is right or wrong.

I think you should consider something more likely to actually happen in the workplace.

You hear a tech threaten to restrain a patient if they don't do what they are told....stay in bed is a common one.

You are assisting with a patient who you know should have been receiving certain meds but it was discontinued due to an error on a previous shift. These are meds that are necessary to keep this patient alive. The error is found and corrected. Patient has gone 3 days without them. Labs come back...show levels that are critical (probably due to not receiving meds!). Doctor is notified of lab results but NOT of the fact there was a med error made for the past 3 days. He adjusts dosage...based on the idea med was not working. No one tells Dr. the client had not received the meds at all for the previous 3 days. Do you tell? And if you do ...WHO? Doctor..Nurse Manager, Charge Nurse... what if your "just a student"?

Now THAT's a dilemma...a real one that happened to me too!