Question of ethic: applying the rule or doing what you feel is right?

burn out · Apr 18, 2006

I think what most interviewers are looking for and this is even true after you are hired is honesty and integrity. If you are asked a tough ethical question during the interview don't just give the politically correct answer be honest and answer how you believe you would act in that particular circumstance. Especially in nursing , if you give your employer reason ever to suspect you would be dishonest I would say there goes your job.

A few years ago I was enrolled in Anesthesia school and was required to do a rotation through a surgical clinic where abortions are performed...there was no way around it and no way could I live with myself even assisting with an abortion. I shared this with my instructors but it made no difference I was still required to do that rotation, I ended up quitting the program before I got there. I still am paying the student loans back but I can lay my head down in peace at night to sleep.

P_RN, ADN, RN · Apr 18, 2006

but I can lay my head down in peace at night to sleep.

I think this reflects my opinion completely. First you must live with yourself and your beliefs. While "rendering unto Caesar" you must not forget that you are the one who has to live with your sense of right and wrong.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2006

I'm not sure what an MEPN is. I think the answer would be something like "I would utilize the chain of command and discuss the situation with my supervisors and asked to be removed from a situation that violates my personal morals and ethics, so that I would not have to choose violating hospital policy. I would utilize resorces available such as chaplin services, risk management, and ethics committees."

Good luck.

Gennaver, MSN · Apr 18, 2006

So, I have a feeling, this issue may have a been brought up in the past but I couldn't find a thread about it... so I am a prospective MEPN, applying in 1-2 years, and starting to think of what to expect.
As part of the application process, there's an interview, and I was thinking, what if they ask something about what to do in a situation where you have to follow rules of the hospital but your personal feelings or beliefs wants you to act otherwise. When I talk about this, I am mainly thinking of the case where a nurse had assisted someone in dying, but it could be for something else, like someone assisting in an abortion while that goes against their religious belief.
I feel this is kind of a trap question, it's hard because nurses are there to care for the patient, but sometimes, it seems that in order to care for them the best, they'd have to cross some lines.
What do you guys think of that? Have you ever been in a "tough" position like that?
zop'

Hello Zoprak,

Just FYI there are two super long threads in the student forums, (graduate/phd/master and so on one) by students who were applying, got accepted and are in their programs. Hopefully they can offer advice even on your specific program!

Gen

p.s. currently about to complete year one of my MENP program and loving it

zoprack · Apr 18, 2006

Tweety, MEPN is for Master Entry Program for Nursing, it's pretty much for those who wanna do a second-career as nursing, the program usually entails one year of cramming where students take the NCLEX at the end, and then two years of Masters, and students have to choose a specialty.

Gennaver, thanks for you comments, but I am not asking this question only regarding the interview process, I wanted more to know about how to deal with difficult situations where your ethics come into play.

I am not sure how many people think about that kind of stuff when entering the nursing profession, but it's good to think ahead and avoid situation like burn_out.

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 18, 2006

I think Tweety gave a pretty good answer (as is often the case). When those situations come up in real life, you use your resources, discuss it, think it through, make a decision, and then live with the consequences.

You have to make a decision you can live with -- but you have to recognize that as an employee (or student), you are not free to violate the policies established by the employing institution. If you can not work within those rules (and whatever accommodations the institutions is willing and able to make for your differences), then it is your responsibility to leave -- not their responsibility to change to conform to your personal beliefs.

llg

PamUK · Apr 18, 2006

So, I have a feeling, this issue may have a been brought up in the past but I couldn't find a thread about it... so I am a prospective MEPN, applying in 1-2 years, and starting to think of what to expect.
As part of the application process, there's an interview, and I was thinking, what if they ask something about what to do in a situation where you have to follow rules of the hospital but your personal feelings or beliefs wants you to act otherwise. When I talk about this, I am mainly thinking of the case where a nurse had assisted someone in dying, but it could be for something else, like someone assisting in an abortion while that goes against their religious belief.
I feel this is kind of a trap question, it's hard because nurses are there to care for the patient, but sometimes, it seems that in order to care for them the best, they'd have to cross some lines.
What do you guys think of that? Have you ever been in a "tough" position like that?
zop'

If you are asked a question like this and it is an urgent/emergency situation, patient safety comes first. Tweety made some goodsuggestions, chain of command, hospital policy, risk assessment/management etc.

But to go over your specific examples, assisting a patient to die is a crime... so dont even think about it! Abortion is not a crime (or at least it isn't in the UK & I dont think it is in the Sates - but you get the gist of what I am saying) - so the nurse must put her judgments of the patients choices aside and do what is in the best interests of the patient... and best interests are not necessarily what YOU, as a nurse think are best interests. It is the competent patient who must decide what is in his or her best interests.

Hope that helps

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Apr 18, 2006

Every hospital I've ever worked at has a policy that allows you to except out of services that you consider to be unethical.

If the question is a clash between YOUR ethics and those of the situation, you are allowed to ask to be removed from the situation. Even in an emergency, the hospital is a team of individuals that must and can function as a team within the limitations of its individual.

I'm sure someone can frame a question where you're the only provider and it's an emergency and YOU have to act or nobody will, but that's not reality in a hospital environment.

Another resource is always the ethics committee, although, this isn't an emergent resource.

I have a clean conscience about my work as an RN. The only ethical issue I routinely encounter involves a breech of hospital policy that I refuse to engage: slow codes (making a half-hearted effort to resus somebody that would truly be better off dead). I have never 'slow' coded somebody. If they are a 'full' code, they get a 'full' code from me. Even though, in many cases, I feel coding certain persons is itself unethical that, at least, was not ME making that unethical decision. I don't feel I have to unethically represent my role in the situation (by slow-coding) to correct the unethical decisions of others.

~faith,

Timothy.

mugwump · Apr 20, 2006

I work in Labor and delivery and usually happy place but sad things do happen. We have a form to fill out stating whether we would or not assist in terminations (I don't really call these abortions although technically they are) they are usually mothers life in jeapordy, Mom is 19 weeks and ruptured and infected. We can choose, yes, no, or depends. Then based on the situation we can make out decision. Also I belive each place has commen decency. Or at least i hope. I am currently pregnant and we have had a couple of IUFD's of real early gestation I would not even be expected to take any of these patients. Heck I don't even think they would let me if i wanted to.