: 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. Your 1-2 page paper should include adhere to APA formatting and references/ citations for the article. Additional sources are optional.
Title: Primary Areas of Legal and Ethical Issues Faced by Oncology Nurses and Strategies to Address Them: A Critical Analysis of Park’s (2009) Study
Introduction:
Oncology nurses play a crucial role in providing care to individuals with cancer, addressing complex physical, emotional, and moral challenges. However, the nature of their work may expose them to various legal and ethical issues. This paper critically examines the primary areas of legal and ethical issues faced by oncology nurses identified in Park’s (2009) study and explores the strategies they may have developed to work with these ethical concerns. This analysis will contribute to a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by oncology nurses and inform future research and practice in this field.
Primary Areas of Legal and Ethical Issues:
Park’s (2009) study identified several primary areas of legal and ethical issues faced by oncology nurses. These include:
1. Informed Consent: Oncology nurses often encounter challenges related to obtaining informed consent from patients. This issue arises when patients may not fully understand the potential risks and benefits of treatment options due to their emotional state or limited health literacy. Navigating this ethical concern requires nurses to ensure patients have access to comprehensive information, use appropriate communication strategies, and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to ensure patients fully comprehend their treatment choices.
2. Privacy and Confidentiality: Oncology nurses must uphold the highest standards of privacy and confidentiality when dealing with sensitive patient information. However, maintaining privacy in busy clinical settings can be challenging. Nurses must be mindful of protecting patient information and follow established protocols to prevent breaches of confidentiality. Strategies such as secure electronic medical records, restricted access, and vigilance in discussing patient information only with involved healthcare team members can mitigate potential legal and ethical dilemmas.
3. End-of-Life Decision-Making: Another critical area of concern for oncology nurses is engaging in end-of-life decision-making. Oncology nurses often support patients and their families during these challenging times, requiring them to navigate delicate ethical dilemmas such as honoring patient autonomy, managing pain and symptom control, and ensuring emotional support. Nurses may develop strategies that involve promoting open communication, providing additional resources for decision-making (such as palliative care consultations), and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to address the complex needs of patients and families.
Strategies Developed by Oncology Nurses:
Park’s (2009) study also explored the strategies developed by oncology nurses to work with these ethical issues. Some of the strategies identified include:
1. Ethical Reflection and Education: Oncology nurses actively engage in ethical reflection and seek ongoing education to enhance their moral reasoning and decision-making skills. This may involve attending seminars, workshops, or pursuing specialized oncology certifications. By continuously updating their knowledge and reflecting on ethically challenging situations, nurses can develop strategies to navigate complex issues more effectively.
2. Interdisciplinary Team Collaboration: Oncology nurses recognize the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in resolving ethical dilemmas. By actively seeking input from other healthcare professionals, such as physicians, social workers, and ethicists, nurses can gain diverse perspectives and collaborate on ethically sound decisions. This strategy ensures a comprehensive approach to patient care while facilitating shared decision-making among the healthcare team.
3. Ethical Consultations: When confronted with particularly challenging ethical dilemmas, oncology nurses may seek ethical consultations. These consultations involve engaging with ethicists or ethics committees to discuss complex cases and determine appropriate courses of action. Ethical consultations provide nurses with a platform to share their concerns, clarify values and principles, and receive guidance on navigating ethically difficult situations.
Conclusion:
Oncology nurses face various legal and ethical issues in their daily practice. These issues impact crucial aspects of patient care, such as informed consent, privacy and confidentiality, and end-of-life decision-making. By actively developing strategies such as ethical reflection and education, interdisciplinary team collaboration, and seeking ethical consultations, nurses can effectively address these challenges. Recognizing these primary areas of concern and implementing strategies to manage them is vital to ensuring high-quality care delivery for patients with cancer. Further research is needed to explore other legal and ethical issues faced by oncology nurses and evaluate the effectiveness of strategies employed in addressing these concerns.