Review the accompanying case study and respond to the questions after each part. Present your answers in an APA-style paper, including an introduction and conclusion, to your instructor. Included in the paper should be a definition of ethics in general and nursing ethics in particular. Utilizing appropriate evidence is also a vital component to ethical care and as such you will be required to provide a minimum of 4 academic references within your paper.

Introduction

Ethics is a branch of philosophy that focuses on the moral principles that guide human behavior. Ethics deals with determining what is right or wrong, good or bad, and just or unjust. In healthcare, ethics is the set of moral principles that guide the conduct of healthcare professionals. Nursing ethics refers to the set of ethical principles that govern the behavior of nurses in their professional practice. Nurses have a duty to uphold ethical standards in their practice to ensure that they provide high-quality care to patients.

Part 1

The case study involves a 64-year-old male patient with a history of hypertension and diabetes who was admitted to the hospital with a blood glucose level of 480 mg/dL. The patient was initially started on a sliding scale insulin regimen but was later transitioned to a basal-bolus insulin regimen. However, the patient refused to take his insulin and demanded to be discharged from the hospital.

In this case, the nurse faces an ethical dilemma. The nurse has a duty to ensure that the patient receives appropriate medical care and treatment. However, the nurse also has to respect the patient’s autonomy and right to make decisions about his own healthcare. In this situation, the nurse must balance the patient’s autonomy with the duty to provide appropriate care.

The nurse should discuss the risks and benefits of insulin therapy with the patient and attempt to address his concerns and fears about the treatment. The nurse should also involve the patient’s family in the decision-making process and seek their support in persuading the patient to accept the treatment. If the patient still refuses to take the insulin, the nurse should document the refusal in the medical record and inform the healthcare team.

Part 2

In the second part of the case study, the patient is readmitted to the hospital with hyperglycemia and is again started on insulin therapy. The patient complains of feeling weak and dizzy and refuses to take his insulin. The nurse is concerned about the patient’s condition and contacts the healthcare provider for further instructions.

In this situation, the nurse has a duty to advocate for the patient’s best interests and ensure that he receives appropriate medical care. The nurse should document the patient’s symptoms and inform the healthcare provider of the patient’s refusal to take his insulin. The nurse should also request further assessments and tests to determine the cause of the patient’s symptoms.

If the healthcare provider orders the nurse to administer the insulin despite the patient’s refusal, the nurse should inform the patient of the order and explain the risks and benefits of the treatment. The nurse should also seek the patient’s cooperation and explain the importance of taking the insulin to improve his condition.

Part 3

In the third part of the case study, the patient is again readmitted to the hospital with hyperglycemia and is started on insulin therapy. The patient initially agrees to take his insulin but later changes his mind and refuses to take it. The healthcare provider orders the nurse to administer the insulin despite the patient’s refusal.

In this situation, the nurse is caught between conflicting ethical principles. The nurse has a duty to respect the patient’s autonomy and right to make decisions about his own healthcare. However, the nurse also has a duty to ensure that the patient receives appropriate medical care and treatment.

The nurse should attempt to persuade the patient to take the insulin by discussing the risks and benefits of the treatment and addressing the patient’s concerns and fears. The nurse should also involve the patient’s family in the decision-making process and seek their support in persuading the patient to accept the treatment.

If the patient still refuses to take the insulin, the nurse should inform the healthcare provider of the patient’s decision and document the refusal in the medical record. The nurse should also inform the patient of the potential consequences of refusing the treatment and seek his cooperation in finding alternative treatments or solutions.

Conclusion

In conclusion