Assignment - I

Objective: To differentiate between ethics, morality, and etiquette by analyzing a given situation.

Scenario: Imagine you are a nurse working in a busy hospital ward. One afternoon, you discover that a fellow nurse, who is a close friend, has accidentally administered the wrong medication to a patient. The medication could potentially cause harm if not addressed immediately. Your friend is extremely distressed and begs you not to report the incident, fearing she will lose her job and damage her reputation. Hospital policy mandates that all medication errors must be reported to ensure patient safety and to improve hospital practices. Additionally, the hospital has protocols for handling and reporting errors to ensure accountability and learning. You are now faced with a difficult decision that involves professional responsibility, personal loyalty, and social norms.

Task: Analyze the scenario and answer the following questions, providing detailed explanations:

Ethics:

• Question: What are the ethical considerations in this scenario, and what would be the ethically correct action to take according to professional standards and hospital policy?

• Pointers:
  • Principle of Patient Safety: Consider the duty of care you owe to your patients and the importance of ensuring their safety.
  • Transparency and Accountability: Reflect on the need for honesty and openness in reporting errors to improve hospital practices and prevent future mistakes.
  • Professional Guidelines: Think about the ethical guidelines provided by your profession, such as the nursing code of ethics, which emphasize integrity and responsibility.

Morality:

• Question: What are the moral considerations in this scenario, and how might your personal or cultural beliefs about right and wrong influence your decision?

• Pointers:
  • Personal Values: Consider your personal values, such as honesty, loyalty, and integrity, and how they guide your actions.
  • Cultural and Religious Beliefs: Reflect on how cultural or religious beliefs might impact your sense of duty and responsibility towards your friend and your job.
  • Emotional Impact: Think about the emotional and relational impact of your decision on your friendship and personal integrity, and how you balance these with the need to do what is right.

Etiquette:

• Question: What aspects of etiquette are involved in this scenario, and how might social norms and conventions influence your behavior or communication in handling this issue?

• Pointers:
  • Professional Communication: Consider the appropriate and respectful ways to address the situation with your friend and your superiors, following professional etiquette.
  • Social Expectations: Reflect on the social norms and expectations within the hospital environment and how they guide professional interactions and behavior.
  • Respect and Sensitivity: Think about how to handle the situation with sensitivity and respect, maintaining professionalism while addressing the mistake and supporting your friend.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Accuracy and clarity in identifying ethics, morality, and etiquette.
• Relevance and detail of explanations.
• Overall coherence of ideas