Anticipating and Managing Emerging Ethical Issues in Nursing Practice, Education, and Research

Monday, 31 October 2011

Tanya Sudia-Robinson, RN, PhD
Georgia Baptist College of Nursing, Mercer University, Atlanta, GA

Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to identify multiple approaches for pre-identification of emerging ethical issues in nursing practice, education, and research.

Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to discuss modelss for managing emerging ethical issues at various stages in practice, education, and research.

Purpose

Future nursing leaders engaged in practice, administration, teaching, and research roles will need enhanced ability to contemplate and identify ethical issues before they arise.   Additionally, they will need expanded skills to analyze and determining effective strategies for management of increasingly complex ethical issues.

Methods

Courses and cases in nursing and interdisciplinary ethics will be utilized to illustrate effective approaches to pre-identification, analysis, and management of ethical issues that can arise in a variety of settings.  Emerging clinical care, professional, administrative, educational, technological, and research related issues are addressed through exemplar cases.  Methods of case analysis expand beyond traditional ethics models to address contemporary concerns.  The incorporation of culturally appropriate and cross-disciplinary models further illustrates the necessity and value of effective engagement among an expanding cadre of stakeholders.

Results

Providing nurse leaders with enhanced insight and skills to effectively navigate ethical issues is foundational for improved outcomes at all levels of practice in various healthcare and educational settings.  Further, placing emphasis on the need for integrated and expanded models for identification, analysis, and management of emerging ethical issues fosters collaborative interdisciplinary engagement.

Conclusion

Future nursing leaders engaged in practice, administration, teaching and research will require expanded skills in early identification and management of ethical issues across settings.  This presentation provides an overview of emerging ethical issues in conjunction with models for identification, analysis, and  outcome management.