SNF and the population
I currently work in a SNF and the population is mostly geriatrics. A potential ethical issue that may be faced in that part of the medical field could be ageism. “Ageism refers to the stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) towards others or oneself based on age” (World health Organization, 2021). This is a problem because it can make an individual feel incompetent or lower their self esteem. Ageism can be seen everywhere, but in the healthcare field it can be a problem because it can hinder a persons decision making. Ageism can affect a persons health and whatever decisions they might have to make regarding their health. It is important for healthcare workers to remember to treat everyone equally and respectfully and ensure that people maintain their autonomy. We can combat this by having proper education and patience toward every patient that we may encounter.
Peer #2
One emerging practice that raises some ethical concerns is the use of electronic health records (EHRs). EHRs are intended to make patient information more precise and available, increasing the efficiency of care delivery. The use of EHRs has increased various ethical issues about data privacy and security throughout the world (Basil et al., 2022). LPNs, among other medical personnel, are usually involved in inputting and retrieving information concerning the patients. The ethical issue comes into play in how to protect this sensitive data from access and invasion by unauthorized persons. Respecting patient privacy is one of the most crucial principles in nursing, and since EHRs are electronic, certain measures need to be put in place to ensure that there’s no misuse of information. Patients must trust the healthcare system.
Another relatively new practice area in nursing that raises ethical considerations is the application of big data analysis within the context of health care. The trend entails the processing of large quantities of health-related information in order to enhance patients\’ well-being. This potentially contributes to more targeted and better care approaches, issues of patient consent and the data\’s ability to be used in unethical ways the patient never expected come into question (Howe & Elenberg, 2020). It becomes unethical when patients are not briefed on how their data will be used or where the data collected will be used for other uses outside the patient\’s care, such as research or commercial purposes. Policies related to the use of data must be clear, and nurses must insist that patients agree to have their data used for analytical purposes.
The growing emphasis on health equity and consideration of Social Determinants of Health may pose ethical concerns in the future. As healthcare organizations engage in redesigning efforts aimed at improving equity, nurses play a greater role in identifying and managing SDOH, including poverty, literacy level, and housing stability. While this is a holistic approach, it does raise ethical issues. Nurses should balance the patients\’ rights to autonomy while promoting patients \’requirements. Managing SDOH may entail talking about issues that patients may feel uneasy discussing. To ethically manage these aspects, nurses must develop trust and professionalism.
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