Analyzing Healthcare Ethical Dilemmas:

1. For this assignment you are going to identify a complex healthcare ethical dilemma facing the professional nurse in our multi-dimensional healthcare environment.
2. This ethical dilemma can be one that you have observed in your current practice setting or one that you have observed in the literature.
3. One you have identified/selected the complex healthcare ethical dilemma you will conduct an in-depth exploration of the literature about the dilemma you have identified/selected.
4. You will need to consider and identify Stakeholders relevant to the identified complex healthcare ethical dilemma so that you can explore their individual perspectives in your presentation.

Presentation Requirements:

Your presentation needs to include the following:

• Introduction: (1-2 slides)
  • Define the meaning of healthcare ethics and its importance in the healthcare field.
• Ethical Dilemma Overview: (1-2 slides)
  • Provide a brief overview of the complex healthcare ethical dilemma you have identified/selected for the purposes of the assignment.
• Ethical Problem Analysis: (1-3 slides)
  • Discuss the ethical principles operational in the complex healthcare ethical dilemma you have identified/selected.
• Stakeholders: (1-3 slides)
  • Identify the stakeholders relevant to the identified complex healthcare ethical dilemma and describe how values and perspectives of the stakeholders are impacted by the dilemma.
• Conclusion: (1 slide)
  • Summarize the main points discussed in the presentation.
  • Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

    1. Understand the Assignment Requirements:
    This assignment asks you to explore a complex healthcare ethical dilemma in the nursing profession. You’ll need to define healthcare ethics, identify the dilemma, analyze it using ethical principles, and consider the perspectives of various stakeholders. Your goal is to create a presentation that is structured, informative, and well-organized.

    2. Choose a Relevant Ethical Dilemma:
    The first step is to identify a complex healthcare ethical dilemma. This could be an issue you’ve observed in your practice or one you’ve read about in the literature. Examples might include end-of-life care decisions, patient autonomy versus healthcare provider recommendations, or resource allocation in a crisis situation.

    3. Start with the Introduction:
    For the introduction, you’ll need 1-2 slides that define healthcare ethics and explain why it’s important in the healthcare field. Focus on the role ethics plays in ensuring patient rights, promoting fairness, and maintaining trust within the healthcare system.

    Example slide content:

    • Definition of healthcare ethics (focus on its importance in decision-making, patient care, and maintaining professionalism).
    • Why healthcare ethics is critical to the delivery of quality care (e.g., it influences decisions about patient rights, fairness, justice, and clinical judgment).

    4. Provide an Overview of the Ethical Dilemma:
    On the next 1-2 slides, briefly describe the ethical dilemma you have chosen. Highlight the key issue and explain the context in which it arises. Be sure to clearly state why it is a “complex” ethical dilemma, and what makes it challenging for healthcare professionals to resolve.

    Example slide content:

    • A description of the ethical dilemma.
    • Why it is considered complex (e.g., conflicting ethical principles, difficult choices between competing values).

    5. Analyze the Ethical Problem:
    In this section (1-3 slides), you’ll break down the ethical principles at play in the dilemma. This could involve principles such as autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, or veracity. Discuss how each principle relates to the dilemma and how it influences decision-making.

    Example slide content:

    • Define and discuss the ethical principles involved (e.g., autonomy vs. paternalism in end-of-life decisions).
    • Analyze how these principles create tension and guide or conflict with clinical practice.

    6. Identify and Analyze Stakeholders:
    You need to identify the key stakeholders in the ethical dilemma and analyze their perspectives. Stakeholders could include patients, families, healthcare providers, administrators, and policy makers. Describe how each stakeholder’s values and perspectives are impacted by the dilemma.

    Example slide content:

    • List stakeholders involved (e.g., patients, families, nurses, doctors, healthcare administrators).
    • Discuss how each stakeholder’s viewpoint and interests are shaped by the dilemma.

    7. Conclusion:
    In the conclusion (1 slide), summarize the key points of your presentation. Reinforce the importance of understanding ethical dilemmas and the need to balance competing values in healthcare.

    Example slide content:

    • Recap the dilemma, ethical principles, and stakeholder perspectives.
    • Final thoughts on the implications of resolving ethical dilemmas in nursing practice.

    8. Visuals and Citations:
    Remember to include visuals that complement your slides and make the information clearer. Diagrams, tables, or images illustrating key points or principles can be effective. Also, be sure to include citations for any literature you reference in your presentation.

    By following this structured approach, you will ensure that your presentation is well-organized and effectively communicates the key elements of the ethical dilemma, stakeholder perspectives, and ethical principles involved.