Nursing Ethics: Ethical Decision-Making and Dilemmas

Course overview

In any decision-making methodology, the primary objective of the nurse is to advocate for their patients right to autonomy and to safeguard their well-being. When nurses encounter moral dilemmas, they should grasp the sequence of making those decisions and the role that values play in informing decisions. The nurse must be familiar with and conscious of their own values. This is very important when making value judgments on behalf of patients and in ensuring that these judgments are based on the patients values. The goal of this course is to equip nurses in the acute care setting with knowledge regarding making decisions in the face of ethical dilemmas and how to be an ambassador for their patients in those circumstances.