A nurse in the emergency department is working triage. Although a ...

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A nurse in the emergency department is working triage. Although a patient with hypomania has been waiting for 2 hours, the nurse sends a suicidal patient to be evaluated immediately. This decision is most likely based upon which ethical principle?
 
  1. Deontology
  2. Utilitarianism
  3. Ethics of care
  4. Virtue ethics

Question 2

Which statement by the nurse reflects the application of deontology to the care of patients admitted to the mental health unit? Select all that apply.
 
  1. I need to report this error because it is the right thing to do.
  2. I think patients have a right to refuse certain psychotropic medications.
  3. All patients need flu shots so that we can all be healthy during flu season.
  4. All patients should be treated equally whether they have insurance or not.
  5. The doctor needs to obtain informed consent so the patient can make a good decision.

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Answer to Question 1

Answer: 2
Explanation: Utilitarianism focuses on the consequences of an action and promoting the greater good. By choosing to treat a suicidal patient who may be in immediate jeopardy over a patient with perhaps a more chronic condition, the nurse is focused on the potential outcome of her decision. Deontology focuses on moral duty and that all persons are of equal value. If the nurse used this principle, she might have shown preference to the patient with who had been waiting longer. The ethics of care has most to do with being empathetic and having an emotional connection. It would be hard for the nurse to use this principle for a triage decision as she is likely empathetic to both patients but doesn't necessarily have an emotional connection to either one. Virtue ethics is how the nurse applies her values to a particular case, and is not the primary principle for this situation.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: 1, 2, 4, 5
Explanation: Requiring all patients to have flu shots is an example of utilitarianism, which speaks more to morality as a function of doing the greatest good for the greatest number. All the other statements refer to principles of rule-based ethics, or deontology. This concept reflects the idea of the duty to be honest, regardless of the outcome. It is about doing the right thing.

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