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1. NURS521 Ethics in Healthcare Essay Assignments
NURS521 Ethics in Healthcare Essay AssignmentsNURS521 Ethics in Healthcare Essay
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Healthcare Essay AssignmentsWeek 1 Discussion ForumDiscussion Prompt #1Reflect upon
the survey you took. In your initial response, address some of the following questions.
Explain your answers.Did you find it easy to make confident and decisive decisions with
several strongly agree or strongly disagree answers, or did you select mostly moderate
responses?Did any subject areas trigger personal emotions or issues? If so, do you feel you
were able to remain objective?Were any of the decisions especially difficult to make?Did
you employ any critical thinking or resolution strategies to determine a response?Did you
rely on policy or legal parameters to make your decisions?Would you be comfortable
making your answers to the survey public, or do you prefer anonymity?Have you dealt with
similar situations and could you perceive similar situations occurring in your clinical
practice?How might a moral inventory such as this survey impact your clinical
practice?Please share additional thoughts as well.Discussion Prompt #2Identify examples of
active and latent errors. Provide examples from your clinical experience, if possible. How
can such errors be avoided to support better patient care?NURS521 Ethics in Healthcare
Essay Assignments – Week 2 discussionDiscussion Prompt #1Explain the statement, “What
may be an ethical dilemma for one registered nurse may not be an ethical dilemma for
another registered nurse.” Be sure to define an ethical dilemma in the course of your
discussion. Describe a challenging situation in your nursing career that required you to
consider the ethical dimensions of the patient case and the role you played in providing
care. (Be sure to respect and maintain patient and colleague confidentiality.)Discussion
Prompt #2Apply the framework of The Five R’s approach to ethical nursing practice from
this week’s reading to answer the questions about values and choices.What are values?Q.
What are your personal values?Q. Why do you value them?Q. What are the values in your
society?Q. How do you make choices?Q. Are your choices based on your values?Q. What
values are useful in society?What are the limits to personal choice?Q. Who limits your
choices?Q. Are limits to choices good?Q. Do you limit other people’s choices?Q. Should the
health care organization or the government limit people’s choices? If so, how, and under
what circumstances?In your responses to peers, feel free to agree, disagree, question,
compare, and discuss each other’s responses in a way that fosters thoughtful and respectful
dialog. You may also address the following: Did any responses surprise you? If so, how? Did
reading your peers’ responses to the questions expand your own view of ways to answer

2. questions?Finally, consider this: A common idea in health care is that if you are drawn to
health care as a profession, you are inherently guided by an inner compass that is composed
of a strong moral framework. Why is this a dangerous assumption?NURS521 Ethics in
Healthcare Essay Assignments – Week 3 discussionDiscussion Prompt #1Discuss the
potential controversy when considering a patient’s right to know whether a caregiver has
AIDS, and the caregiver’s right to privacy and confidentiality. Consider the following: A
physician cut his hand with a scalpel while he was assisting another physician. Because of
the uncertainty that blood had been transferred from the physician’s hand wound to the
patient through an open surgical incision, he agreed to have a blood test for HIV. His blood
tested positive for HIV and he withdrew himself from participation in further surgical
procedures. Discuss the ethical and legal issues.Discussion Prompt #2The following
questions refer to your experience in this week’s exercise, Conducting Moral and Ethical
Dialog in Clinical Practice. Describe your overall experience with the moral and ethical
dialog exercise, and address at least three (3) of the following:Did you find any of the
scenarios more difficult to deal with than others?Did you feel any internal conflict with any
of the scenarios?How did your personal and professional background impact how you
decided to interact with the patient?Do you feel the responses the patient gave to the
practitioner’s response were reasonable or typical?Were you taken aback by any of the
patient reactions?How might this activity contribute to your role as a nurse advocate in a
moral and ethical practice?Did you utilize an ethical decision making model to explore a
systematic way to evaluate any of these ethical dilemmas? If so, describe the
effectiveness.NURS521 Ethics in Healthcare Essay Assignments – Week 4
discussionDiscussion Prompt #1Apply the differences between negligence and malpractice
to the practice of nursing. Provide examples to illustrate your points.Discussion Prompt
#2Read the following article and view the video on the same case. How can this example be
used as an illustration of maintaining patient safety and providing safe, effective care?
Identify some of the possible barriers that nurses face when acting on what they believe to
be the morally correct action in this particular case.Patient Safety Advocate Carole
HemmelgarnNURS521 Ethics in Healthcare Essay Assignments – Week 5
discussionDiscussion Prompt #1Specifically define the role of the registered nurse in
patient advocacy. Describe situations in which nursing advocacy can assist patients within
the healthcare environment. Defend why nurses are, or are not, adequately prepared, in
prelicensure education, to act as patient advocates.Discussion Prompt #2The ANA Code of
Ethics currently emphasizes the word “patient” instead of the word “client” in referring to
nursing care recipients. Do you agree with this change? Why or why not? Review the ANA
Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements found in Appendix B of your Butts
text.NURS521 Ethics in Healthcare Essay Assignments – Week 6 discussionDiscussion
Prompt #1Identify two issues that a nurse might bring to an institutional ethics committee.
Describe why the nurse should bring these issues to the ethics committee. Elaborate on how
a nurse should prepare to present one of the issues to the ethics committee.Discussion
Prompt #2Betty, the chief nursing officer, had to make a decision about buying 120 new
hospital beds for patient rooms. After she interviewed nurse mangers at the units where the
beds were going to be placed, Betty compiled her findings and decided to contact a well-

3. known equipment company to obtain prices and contracts. The equipment company’s
executive salesperson, Jim, discussed options at length with her and invited her and her
significant other to an upcoming all-expenses-paid lavish retreat at a five-star hotel in
Hawaii to see demonstrations of the beds and to hear a comprehensive sales pitch. Betty
thought to herself, “We badly need some relaxation and stress relief. Hawaii would be so
much fun. Would it be wrong for us to go?”If you were Betty, what would you do? Give your
rationale. Justify your answer with an ethical framework—a theory, approach, or
principle.Do you consider this situation a conflict of interest? Why or why not? Give your
rationale.What policies, if any, should be in place regarding a scenario such as this one? Do
you have any such policies in place at work for similar situations? Do such policies impact
day-to-day activities in any way? Explain.NURS521 Ethics in Healthcare Essay Assignments
– Week 7 discussionDiscussion Prompt #1Discuss the elements of informed consent and
provide a clinical example about what can happen when some elements are not adhered
to.Discussion Prompt #2Describe an organizational environment that would facilitate the
ethical practice of nurses caring for chronically ill patients. As you read about patient rights,
describe one patient right that is often not fully implemented in the patient care
environment. Identify specific strategies to help ensure that this right is supported within
the patient care environment. Explain how the registered nurse can assist in protecting
patient rights.NURS521 Ethics in Healthcare Essay Assignments – Week 8
discussionDiscussion Prompt #1Describe a clinical situation in which a registered nurse
may encounter moral distress. Answer the AACN’s Four A’s found on page 84 in your Butts
and Rich text to further explain the situation, and the possible mitigation
strategies.Discussion Prompt #2Describe different ways that social media use can violate
ethical nursing practices. How can ethical social media use be beneficial to health care
professionals and their patients?NURS521 Ethics in Healthcare Essay Assignments – Week 1
Virtue Ethics EssayRespond to one of the following three “news clippings” related to virtue
ethics from your Pozgar text. Write a 1- 2 page essay addressing the discussion questions
posed for the one you selected. Be sure to clearly identify the news clipping you
selected.Adhere to APA formatting and cite all sources. Review the rubric for further
information on how your NURS521 Ethics in Healthcare Essay Assignments will be
graded.Due: Sunday, 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time)Points: 40Watch the following 3 videos and
choose one to address for your assignment.#1. Wrong-Operation DoctorDownload
ScriptFind Out More: You may use these and other outside sources to frame your
discussion.The Pain of Wrong Site SurgeryJudgment Upheld in Arkansas Brain Surgery
LawsuitNational Quality ForumAssignment Discussion Questions1. Discuss the issues of
integrity in this case.2. Should criminal charges be considered in this case, if accurately
reported? Discuss your answer.3. Why did you choose to respond to this story?4. How is
integrity displayed in your clinical setting?#2. Cheney’s Staff Cuts Testimony on
WarmingDownload ScriptFind Out More: You may use these and other outside sources to
frame your discussion.The full story Cheney’s Staff Cut Testimony On WarmingCDC on Air
QualityAssignment Discussion Questions1. Discuss how headlines such as this affect your
opinion of politicians.2. At the end of our days, the most basic principles of life–trust and
survival–are on trial. What is your verdict, if you believe there was a cover-up?.3. Why did

4. you choose to respond to this story?4. How are government and political trust displayed in
your clinical setting?#3. Surgeon Uses Ministry in Medical PracticeDownload ScriptFind Out
More: You may use these and other outside sources to frame your discussion.The full story:
Praying with patients: A Dallas surgeon finds a way to put ministry into practiceShould Your
Doctor Pray With You?South Korean Hospitals Shut Over MERS Fears; 11th Person
DiesNote the picture in this articleAssignment Discussion Questions1. Discuss the pressure,
if any, placed on the patient to responding to the suggestion of prayer prior to surgery.2.
Describe how you, as the surgeon, or nurse, would address a patient’s religious or spiritual
needs if the risks of a complex surgical procedure appear to be threatening.3. Why did you
choose to respond to this story?4. How is religion or faith displayed in your clinical
setting?NURS521 Ethics in Healthcare Essay Assignments – Week 2 Ethical Frameworks
EssayConsider the “Four Topics Approach” (or Four Box method) to ethical decision making
on page 61, Table 2.1 in Butts (below). Apply this model to a challenging situation in your
nursing career that required you to consider the ethical dimensions of the patient case and
the role you played in providing care. Specifically apply and address the questions within
each topic area as they pertain to your situation.In your conclusion, discuss the impact of
the Four Topics process. Did applying these principles shape your decision making in any
way? Does this seem like a valid process for you to apply in your practice?Your NURS521
Ethics in Healthcare Essay Assignments paper should be 1-2 pages. Adhere to APA
formatting throughout, and cite any outside sources you may use.Review the rubric for
further information on how your assignment will be graded.Optional: You may download
this pdf, complete it using correct grammar and APA, and submit it as your assignment in
lieu of writing a paper. *You will need Adobe Acrobat in order to utilize this fillable .pdf
form.Due: Sunday, 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time)Points: 60TABLE 2-1 Four Topics Method for
Analysis of Clinical Ethics CasesMedical Indications: The Principles of Beneficence and
Nonmaleficence1. What is the patient’s medical problem? Is the problem acute? Chronic?
Critical? Reversible? Emergent? Terminal?2. What are the goals of treatment?3. In what
circumstances are medical treatments not indicated?4. What are the probabilities of success
of various treatment options?5. In sum, how can this patient be benefited by medical and
nursing care, and how can harm be avoided?Patient Preferences: The Principle of Respect
for Autonomy1. Has the patient been informed of benefits and risks, understood this
information, and given consent?2. Is the patient mentally capable and legally competent,
and is there evidence of incapacity?3. If mentally capable, what preferences about treatment
is the patient stating?4. If incapacitated, has the patient expressed prior preferences?5. Who
is the appropriate surrogate to make decisions for the incapacitated patient?6. Is the patient
unwilling or unable to cooperate with medical treatment? If so, why?Quality of Life: The
Principles of Beneficence and Nonmaleficence and Respect for Autonomy1. What are the
prospects, with or without treatment, for a return to normal life, and what physical, mental,
and social deficits might the patient experience even if treatment succeeds?2. On what
grounds can anyone judge that some quality of life would be undesirable for a patient who
cannot make or express such a judgment?3. Are there biases that might prejudice the
provider’s evaluation of the patient’s quality of life?4. What ethical issues arise concerning
improving or enhancing a patient’s quality of life?5. Do quality-of-life assessments raise any

5. questions regarding changes in treatment plans, such as forgoing life-sustaining
treatment?6. What are plans and rationale to forgo life-sustaining treatment?7. What is the
legal and ethical status of suicide?Contextual Features: The Principles of Justice and
Fairness1. Are there professional, interprofessional, or business interests that might create
conflicts of interest in the clinical treatment of patients?2. Are there parties other than
clinicians and patients, such as family members, who have an interest in clinical decisions?3.
What are the limits imposed on patient confidentiality by the legitimate interests of third
parties?4. Are there financial factors that create conflicts of interest in clinical decisions?5.
Are there problems of allocation of scarce health resources that might affect clinical
decisions?6. Are there religious issues that might influence clinical decisions?7. What are
the legal issues that might affect clinical decisions?8. Are there considerations of clinical
research and education that might affect clinical decisions?9. Are there issues of public
health and safety that affect clinical decisions?10. Are there conflicts of interest within
institutions and organizations (e.g., hospitals) that may affect clinical decisions and patient
welfare?Week 3 Contemporary Issue Position EssayChoose a case from the AMA Journal of
Ethics Case Index and take a position. For this assignment you will evaluate the ethical
arguments for or against the issue. Identify the potential legal arguments (consider current
federal guidelines), indicate any potential professional code conflicts you foresee, and
support your position with an explanation of your own ethical/moral foundation.In your 2-
3 page paper:Identify the issue and state your ethical position.How might this scenario play
out or impact you in your role as a nurse practitioner?Defend your position with legal,
ethical, and professional evidence.As part of your position, propose strategies and solutions
for addressing the issues.What other ethical issues does this case bring to light, if
any?Support your position with at least one scholarly source (it may be your text). Be sure
to cite the article you choose, use APA format, and include a title page and reference
page.Review the rubric for further information on how your assignment will be
graded.Week 4 Article Summary and Review EssayChoose one of the articles below, and
address the essay prompt associated with it. You will need to log in to the WCU library to
access the full article.Park, M. (2009). Ethical issues in nursing practice. Journal of Nursing
Law, 13(3), 68-77. doi:10.1891/1073-7472.13.3.68Link: Ethical issues in nursing
practiceEssay Prompt: Identify primary areas for legal and ethical issues faced by oncology
nurses in this study (Park, 2009), and strategies they may have developed to work with
those ethical issues.Or,Croke, E. (2006). Nursing malpractice: determining liability elements
for negligent acts. Journal of Legal Nurse Consulting, 17(3), 3.Link: Nursing malpractice:
determining liability elements for negligent actsEssay Prompt: Identify primary problems
that led to the malpractice suits (Croke, 2006), and identify the role the nurse played and
what the nurse did wrong.Your 1-2 page paper should include adhere to APA formatting
and references/ citations for the article. Additional sources are optional.Review the rubric
for further information on how your assignment will be graded.NURS521 Ethics in
Healthcare Essay Assignments – Week 5 Field Activity PaperThis NURS521 Ethics in
Healthcare Essay Assignments paper will have three parts addressing two important pieces
of legislation related to the right of individuals to make health care decisions for
themselves.Part IThe Advance Health Care DirectiveLocate a copy of an advanced directive

6. (AD) that complies with the laws of the state in which you work. The organization in which
you work should have a copy of an advance directive that is given to patients. If not,
download your state’s Advance Directives here
http://www.caringinfo.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3289.Complete the advance
directive for yourself. Do not turn in your AD with your paper. The AD is for your personal
use.In your paper, Part I:Identify where you obtained the AD and explain its compliance
with state law.Conduct research (1-2 sources) to learn more about the AD in your state and
explain how it works.Discuss how easy or difficult it was to complete the AD. Your
comments should be specific and both objective and subjective. For example, when you
state your personal feelings, you must relate them to the literature (textbook and research)
that discusses this process and the difficulties that many people face when completing an
advance directive.(Cite/ reference any sources you use to explore these questions, including
your texts.)Part IIPhysician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) FormWhat is a
Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form?When should this form be
completed?Who can complete the form?Who needs to sign the form to make it a legal
document?(Cite/reference any sources you use to explore these questions, including your
texts.)Part IIITie the two first sections together by writing a summary and conclusion.This
section should address:1. the differences between an Advance Health Care Directive and the
POLST,2. the RN’s important role in assuring the patient’s right to autonomy in choosing the
healthcare interventions the patient does or does not want.Use current APA format.The
NURS521 Ethics in Healthcare Essay Assignments paper should be between 3-5 pages in
length excluding the title and reference page(s).Cite and reference the course text and at
least two (2) additional appropriate professional sources.Review the rubric for further
information on how your assignment will be graded.Week 6 Organizational Ethics
PresentationThis week, you will submit your presentation using the Kaltura recording tool
within Blackboard. See the Getting Started with Kaltura link listed under the Resources area
in your course menu to learn how to use this tool. Your presentation must include both
audio and visual components and be professional in nature.You will submit your final
NURS521 Ethics in Healthcare Essay Assignments presentation here for grading, and you
will submit it to the discussion board this week as a draft for your peers to review and as a
final product to share. See the discussion board for details.1. Choose a topic below.Taken
from the assigned reading in Butts chapter 12, page 401, “Ethical Reflection: Typical
Unethical or Illegal Behaviors in Organizations”2. Create a presentation of 10-15 slides or
screens excluding the title and references.Your slides/screen should include titles, main
ideas, bullet points, and relevant images, charts, graphs, etc.3. In your presentation:Describe
an ethical situation, based on the chosen topic, that can get in the nurse’s way of practicing
ethically. Describe the situation clearly and concisely.Identify how this situation relates to
one provision within the Code of Ethics for Nurses.Identify two ethical principles that may
arise when facing this situation.Discuss how a nurse might lessen the impact of the situation
on the nurse’s practice.In addition to the course texts, cite and reference a minimum of two
(2) additional scholarly sources to support your work.Close with a summary of your topic,
and APA formatted reference slide(s).Audio is optional.Review the rubric for further
information on how your assignment will be graded.NURS521 Ethics in Healthcare Essay

7. Assignments – Week 7 Advocacy PaperChoose a patient-care situation in which the RN
should intervene and advocate for the patient. An example of such a situation might be
when a patient has not been given complete informed consent.Include the following in your
paper:Describe the clinical situation concisely and descriptively. It can be an actual situation
or a hypothetical one.Apply the Bioethical Decision Making Model to the specific clinical
ethical situation that you choose. Address each section of the model in your paper.Conclude
with a discussion of nursing advocacy in the clinical setting and the nurse’s role as a patient
advocate.Your paper should be 4-5 pages.You must reference and cite 1-2 scholarly sources
other than your text. Include a title page and a reference page to cite your text and adhere to
APA formatting.Review the rubric for further information on how your assignment will be
graded.Week 8 Nine Tenets EssayReviewing Appendix B in Butts, choose two of the Nine
Tenets of the Code of Ethics for Nurses and describe how you will personally apply each
tenet in the practice setting with your patients. Describe in detail the purpose of the tenet
and provide examples of the tenet applied in practice. Explain why it is important to uphold
the tenet in maximizing the quality of patient care, and identify how it enhances your own
practice as a nurse.Your NURS521 Ethics in Healthcare Essay Assignments paper should be
1-2 pages.Include a title page and a reference page to cite your text. Adhere to APA
formatting throughout, and cite any outside sources you may use.Review the rubric for
further information on how your NURS521 Ethics in Healthcare Essay Assignments
assignment will be graded.