An Ethical Issue Of Force Vs. Neglect In Nursing
Force vs. Neglect: An Ethical issue
Ethics encompass every aspect of the world. Each direction a person wishes to take can be directed by their moral compass. However, the complexity of the world requires an analysis of the morals to make certain that everyone follows the same standards in society. There are many jobs that require consistent conversations on ethics. One of these jobs that I was exposed to is nursing and that is the field that I worked in for several years. One of the ethical issues is how to help people with dementia. Throughout my paper I will be discussing the ethical issue of neglect and force in nursing. As a certified nursing assistant (CNA), there is an unwritten rule when dealing with dementia. This rule is …show more content…
The natural law theory would support my belief that force, in this case, is morally correct. This is because humans share a rational moral nature, and common goals (Boss, 2014 pg. 272). Health is a common goal in human nature and hygiene is essential to health. When a person is unable to take care of their hygiene the natural law would say it is ethically right to step in and help them. Within the natural law theory there is the “Principle of Double Effect”. This principle states that harm is justified when the results are good (2014, pg. 277). We did not physically harm the resident, however her screams would suggest that we did. The principle of double effect supports that our actions were moral because improving her hygiene was the end …show more content…
Deontology states that duty is the basis of morality. It is a CNA’s duty to prevent illness and optimize health with respect and dignity. Prima facie duty is when one moral action overrides another. In this case the prevention of illness overrides the wishes of the resident (2014, pg. 300). The evening shift practiced the duty of reparation by making up for the day shifts previous actions. The restitution was a meeting with the boss and a rigid schedule during the day (2014 pg. 324).
Neglect and force has been debated throughout the years, and there are ethical concepts that support and critique each of these practices. They can be seen as immoral actions however I believe that neglect is always immoral. In this particular case neglect was unintentional and they believed they were following the wishes of the resident and not ignoring them. This is why there was a discussion of the ethics on the issue. A person with dementia deserves their rights, but when they unable to take care of themselves then they need the helpful force of a certified
Ethics encompass every aspect of the world. Each direction a person wishes to take can be directed by their moral compass. However, the complexity of the world requires an analysis of the morals to make certain that everyone follows the same standards in society. There are many jobs that require consistent conversations on ethics. One of these jobs that I was exposed to is nursing and that is the field that I worked in for several years. One of the ethical issues is how to help people with dementia. Throughout my paper I will be discussing the ethical issue of neglect and force in nursing. As a certified nursing assistant (CNA), there is an unwritten rule when dealing with dementia. This rule is …show more content…
The natural law theory would support my belief that force, in this case, is morally correct. This is because humans share a rational moral nature, and common goals (Boss, 2014 pg. 272). Health is a common goal in human nature and hygiene is essential to health. When a person is unable to take care of their hygiene the natural law would say it is ethically right to step in and help them. Within the natural law theory there is the “Principle of Double Effect”. This principle states that harm is justified when the results are good (2014, pg. 277). We did not physically harm the resident, however her screams would suggest that we did. The principle of double effect supports that our actions were moral because improving her hygiene was the end …show more content…
Deontology states that duty is the basis of morality. It is a CNA’s duty to prevent illness and optimize health with respect and dignity. Prima facie duty is when one moral action overrides another. In this case the prevention of illness overrides the wishes of the resident (2014, pg. 300). The evening shift practiced the duty of reparation by making up for the day shifts previous actions. The restitution was a meeting with the boss and a rigid schedule during the day (2014 pg. 324).
Neglect and force has been debated throughout the years, and there are ethical concepts that support and critique each of these practices. They can be seen as immoral actions however I believe that neglect is always immoral. In this particular case neglect was unintentional and they believed they were following the wishes of the resident and not ignoring them. This is why there was a discussion of the ethics on the issue. A person with dementia deserves their rights, but when they unable to take care of themselves then they need the helpful force of a certified