Ethical Principles That Should be Considered When Providing Care to Patients
Despite progress made in health technology and neonatology, the survival rates of extremely preterm babies remain low. Research findings based on data compiled between 2013 and 2018 in the United States focused on the survival rates of extremely preterm infants showed that less than 11 percent of infants born at 22 weeks survived to discharge (Bell et al., 2022). Hire our assignment writing services in case your assignment is devastating you.
In this case, the patient in the ward with preterm labor at 22 weeks wants their child to be resuscitated and provided the best care. However, the care providers know that the chances of survival are low, and if the child survives, they will have many developmental and medical issues. This presents a challenging ethical situation for the nurses. The decisions made need to consider the ethical principles that guide nursing decisions. These principles include; nonmaleficence, beneficence, autonomy, and justice.
Based on the research data proving lowered survival rates of extremely preterm infants (Bell et al., 2022), and the increased risk of morbidities in case of survival of preterm infants (Cheong et al., 2018), the nurses in neonatal care, in this case, should consider the principles of beneficence, autonomy, and nonmaleficence in making decisions and managing the case. The beneficence principle will help the nurses make beneficial decisions for the patient. The autonomy principle will allow the patient to make independent decisions about their preterm infant. At the same time, the nonmaleficence principle will guide the nurses to do their best to support the survival of the infant.
Advice to the Nurse in Providing Care to This Patient in this Case Study
The nurse’s moral distress and concern for resuscitating the extremely preterm infant are based on their professional evaluation of the chances of survival and the medical risks upon the survival of the baby. Caring for extremely premature infants lowers the parents’ quality of life and leads to social and financial difficulties for the families (Petty et al., 2022). They are also required to respect the autonomy of the parents in deciding on the next course of care. At the same time, as care advocates, they should protect the best interest of the preterm infant against the interest of the family. This is ethically challenging. Despite their evaluation of the case and distress, they are still bound ethically and legally to provide care and support to the patient. Based on the ethical principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence, they are expected to attend to the patient and provide essential care to their extremely preterm infant, including resuscitation, to minimize the risk of the infant’s death despite the uncertainty of survival. The nurse should attempt by all means necessary to ensure the child survives, including providing life support systems such as incubators. The nurse should apply their knowledge, in this case, to reduce and prevent the risk of infections after birth, and understand and alleviate the patient’s stress.