NHS-FPX4000 Assessment 3 Applying Ethical Principles Paper

NHS-FPX4000 Assessment 3 Applying Ethical Principles Paper – Step-by-Step Guide

The first step before starting to write the NHS-FPX4000 Assessment 3 Applying Ethical Principles Paper, it is essential to understand the requirements of the assignment. The first step is to read the assignment prompt carefully to identify the topic, the length and format requirements. You should go through the rubric provided so that you can understand what is needed to score the maximum points for each part of the assignment. 

It is also important to identify the audience of the paper and its purpose so that it can help you determine the tone and style to use throughout. You can then create a timeline to help you complete each stage of the paper, such as conducting research, writing the paper, and revising it to avoid last-minute stress before the deadline. After identifying the formatting style to be applied to the paper, such as APA, you should review its use, such as writing citations and referencing the resources used. You should also review how to format the title page and the headings in the paper.

How to Research and Prepare for NHS-FPX4000 Assessment 3 Applying Ethical Principles Paper

The next step in preparing for your paper is to conduct research and identify the best sources to use to support your arguments. Identify the list of keywords from your topic using different combinations. The first step is to visit the university library and search through its database using the important keywords related to your topic. You can also find books, peer-reviewed articles, and credible sources for your topic from PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Ensure that you select the references that have been published in the last words and go through each to check for credibility. Ensure that you obtain the references in the required format, for example, in APA, so that you can save time when creating the final reference list. 

You can also group the references according to their themes that align with the outline of the paper. Go through each reference for its content and summarize the key concepts, arguments and findings for each source. You can write down your reflections on how each reference connects to the topic you are researching about. After the above steps, you can develop a strong thesis that is clear, concise and arguable. Next you should create a detailed outline of the paper so that it can help you to create headings and subheadings to be used in the paper. Ensure that you plan what point will go into each paragraph.

How to Write the Introduction for NHS-FPX4000 Assessment 3 Applying Ethical Principles Paper

The introduction of the paper is the most crucial part as it helps to provide the context of your work, and will determine if the reader will be interested to read through to the end. You should start with a hook, which will help capture the reader’s attention. You should contextualize the topic by offering the reader a concise overview of the topic you are writing about so that they may understand its importance. You should state what you aim to achieve with the paper. The last part of the introduction should be your thesis statement, which provides the main argument of the paper.

How to Write the Body for NHS-FPX4000 Assessment 3 Applying Ethical Principles Paper

The body of the paper helps you to present your arguments and evidence to support your claims. You can use headings and subheadings developed in the paper’s outline to guide you on how to organize the body. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence to help the reader know what point you will be discussing in that paragraph. Support your claims using the evidence conducted from the research, ensure that you cite each source properly using in-text citations. You should analyze the evidence presented and explain its significance and how it connects to the thesis statement. You should maintain a logical flow between each paragraph by using transition words and a flow of ideas.

How to Write the In-text Citations for NHS-FPX4000 Assessment 3 Applying Ethical Principles Paper

In-text citations help the reader to give credit to the authors of the references they have used in their works. All ideas that have been borrowed from references, any statistics and direct quotes must be referenced properly. The name and date of publication of the paper should be included when writing an in-text citation. For example, in APA, after stating the information, you can put an in-text citation after the end of the sentence, such as (Smith, 2021). If you are quoting directly from a source, include the page number in the citation, for example (Smith, 2021, p. 15). Remember to also include a corresponding reference list at the end of your paper that provides full details of each source cited in your text. An example paragraph highlighting the use of in-text citations is as below:

The integration of technology in nursing practice has significantly transformed patient care and improved health outcomes. According to Smith (2021), the use of electronic health records (EHRs) has streamlined communication among healthcare providers, allowing for more coordinated and efficient care delivery. Furthermore, Johnson and Brown (2020) highlight that telehealth services have expanded access to care, particularly for patients in rural areas, thereby reducing barriers to treatment.

How to Write the Conclusion for NHS-FPX4000 Assessment 3 Applying Ethical Principles Paper

When writing the conclusion of the paper, start by restarting your thesis, which helps remind the reader what your paper is about. Summarize the key points of the paper, by restating them. Discuss the implications of your findings and your arguments. End with a call to action that leaves a lasting impact on the reader or recommendations.

How to Format the Reference List for NHS-FPX4000 Assessment 3 Applying Ethical Principles Paper

The reference helps provide the reader with the complete details of the sources you cited in the paper. The reference list should start with the title “References” on a new page. It should be aligned center and bolded. The references should be organized in an ascending order alphabetically and each should have a hanging indent. If a source has no author, it should be alphabetized by the title of the work, ignoring any initial articles such as “A,” “An,” or “The.” If you have multiple works by the same author, list them in chronological order, starting with the earliest publication. 

Each reference entry should include specific elements depending on the type of source. For books, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the book in italics, the edition (if applicable), and the publisher’s name. For journal articles, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the article (not italicized), the title of the journal in italics, the volume number in italics, the issue number in parentheses (if applicable), and the page range of the article. For online sources, include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or the URL at the end of the reference. An example reference list is as follows:

References

Johnson, L. M., & Brown, R. T. (2020). The role of telehealth in improving patient outcomes. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 35(2), 123-130. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000456

Smith, J. A. (2021). The impact of technology on nursing practice. Health Press.

NHS-FPX4000 Assessment 3 Applying Ethical Principles Paper Instructions

For this assessment, you will develop a solution to a specific ethical dilemma faced by a health

care professional.

Case Study: End-of-Life Decision Making

Eleanor Thompson, a 72-year-old woman, has been battling an aggressive form of ovarian cancer for the past three years. Despite undergoing multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, her condition has deteriorated, and she is now experiencing severe pain and suffering. Eleanor’s oncologist, Dr. Samuel Martinez, has presented the family with the option of another experimental treatment, but he has also suggested considering transitioning to palliative care.

Eleanor’s family is deeply divided on the decision. Her eldest daughter, Maria, believes that every possible treatment should be pursued, holding onto hope for a miracle. She argues that her mother has always been a fighter and would want to continue the battle against her illness.

On the other hand, Eleanor’s son, Michael, feels that his mother has suffered enough. He believes that transitioning to palliative care would allow her to spend her remaining days in comfort and peace. Caught in the middle is Eleanor’s husband of 50 years, Robert. He is torn between wanting to honor his wife’s fighting spirit, desiring to ease her pain, and the painful finality of either decision.

The healthcare team must navigate a complex ethical landscape. Beneficence, the principle of doing good, pushes the team to consider what would truly benefit Eleanor in terms of quality of life. Non-maleficence, or “do no harm,” raises questions about the potential suffering Eleanor might endure with further aggressive treatments. Lastly, the principle of justice requires the team to treat Eleanor fairly and equitably, ensuring her needs are met regardless of family disagreements.

Select health care problems or issues presented: Case Study: End-of-Life Decision Making. Write a brief overview of the selected health care problem or issue. In your overview:

Summarize the health care problem or issue.

Describe the professional relevance of this topic.

Describe any professional experience you have with this topic.

Identify peer-reviewed articles relevant to this health care issue or problem.

Conduct a search for scholarly or academic peer-reviewed literature related to the topic and describe the criteria you used to search for articles, including the names of the databases you used. You will select four current scholarly or academic peer-reviewed journal articles published during the past 3–5 years that relate to your topic.

Refer to the NHS-FPX4000: Developing a Health Care Perspective Library Guide to help you locate appropriate references.

Use keywords related to the health care problem or issue you are researching to select relevant articles.

Assess the credibility and explain relevance of the information sources you find.

Determine if the source is from an academic peer-reviewed journal.

Determine if the publication is current.

Determine if information in the academic peer-reviewed journal article is still relevant.

Analyze academic peer-reviewed journal articles using the annotated bibliography organizational format. Provide a rationale for inclusion of each selected article. The purpose of an annotated bibliography is to document a list of references along with key information about each one. The detail about the reference is the annotation. Developing this annotated bibliography will create a foundation of knowledge about the selected topic. In your annotated bibliography:

Identify the purpose of the article.

Summarize the information.

Provide rationale for inclusion of each article.

Include the conclusions and findings of the article.

Write your annotated bibliography in a paragraph form. The annotated bibliography should be approximately 150 words (1–3 paragraphs) in length.

List the full reference for the source in APA format (author, date, title, publisher, et cetera) and use APA format for the annotated bibliography.

Make sure the references are listed in alphabetical order, are double-spaced, and use hanging indents.

Summarize what you have learned while developing an annotated bibliography.

Summarize what you learned from your research in a separate paragraph or two at the end of the paper.

List the main points you learned from your research.

Summarize the main contributions of the sources you chose and how they enhanced your knowledge about the topic.

NHS-FPX4000 Assessment 3 Applying Ethical Principles Paper Example

Applying Ethical Principles

Ethical dilemmas are situations whereby an individual is forced to choose between two conflicting actions, where each action would lead to compromising a particular moral principle. Healthcare professionals often face various ethical dilemmas, which require them to apply ethical principles. Decision-making in end-of-life care is among the areas whereby care providers face ethical dilemmas. This paper summarizes the facts in a case study, discusses effective communication approaches that healthcare providers can use to address the issue in the case study, and evaluates the effectiveness of the approach used by the professional in the case study in relation to the components of the decision-making model. In addition, the paper applies ethical principles to propose a possible solution to the issue from the case study.

The end-of-life decision-making case study entails Eleanor Thompson, a 72-year-old woman who has ovarian cancer that has been deteriorating for the last three years. The oncologist has suggested transitioning to palliative care or trying another experimental treatment. The patient’s family is divided in decision-making due to the painful finality of either decision.

Case Study Facts Summary

The case study entails end-of-life care and related decision-making. There are various facts related to the case study. Following Eleanor’s extensive treatment over the three years without improvement, there has been increased suffering and loss of hope, leading to the doctor proposing two options: palliative care and experimental treatment. According to De Panfilis et al. (2023), most people choose palliative care following increased suffering and lost hope for improvement. In addition, the condition has raised three different family perspectives.

The daughter believes that her mother would want to continue fighting, considering she has a fighting spirit. On the other hand, the son supports transitioning to palliative care to reduce the mother’s suffering and improve her quality of life in her remaining days. The husband is also torn between both choices. These different perspectives are likely to cause moral distress to the healthcare provider.

Moral distress is a state in which a care provider is unable to act in accordance with their beliefs due to external constraints, such as a poorly defined care trajectory and the involvement of multiple teams with different expectations and suggestions (Rosenwohl-Mack et al., 2021). In this case study, the family members’ differing perspectives may cause moral distress, as the patient is still suffering and a decision needs to be made.

Furthermore, there are different ethical considerations in the case study. These include beneficence, justice, and non-maleficence. End-of-life care is associated with biomedical ethics considerations as the clinical decision-making team aims to protect the patient’s rights and dignity while maintaining patient preferences and justice (Akdeniz et al., 2021). In this case, beneficence will entail making a decision that will enhance Eleanor’s well-being, such as palliative care. Non-maleficence will entail preventing further harm by avoiding the experimental treatment. The principle of justice entails ensuring that the patient’s care is not compromised by family disagreement over a decision, and that it is made in line with the patient’s best interests and preferences.

Communication Approaches

Effective communication is crucial in navigating end-of-life care, particularly in the context of the complex ethical issues that often arise in related decision-making. The care provider should use some communication approaches to address Eleanor’s issue. The first approach uses active listening, empathy, and emotional responses. According to Chen et al. (2023), demonstrating genuine empathy and actively listening to family members’ concerns and suggestions is crucial in palliative care, as it fosters trust and enables family members to feel heard and respected.

In this case, the care provider can use compassionate and clear communication to discuss Eleanor’s state, way forward, and available options. For instance, the care provider should take time to explain to the family, clarify any concerns raised, and use simple language to ensure all family members understand. Chen et al. (2023) note that clear and compassionate communication also reduces and prevents misunderstanding.

The other communication approach that the care provider can use to address the issue effectively is shared decision-making while providing emotional and psychological support to family members. The care provider should ensure all family members are involved in the decision-making process by holding a meeting to discuss all perspectives and options. However, having a social worker in attendance is crucial to help the family members cope with their emotions. Emotional and psychological burdens may affect the family members adversely when making decisions related to end-of-life care (Chen et al., 2023).

Effectiveness of the Approach Used in the Case Study in Relation to the Ethical Decision-Making Model

The ethical decision-making model has three components: moral awareness, moral judgment, and moral intent and action. The effectiveness of the approach used in the case study will be analyzed by assessing how well it aligns with the ethical decision-making model’s component. Moral awareness entails the recognition of a situation that entails an ethical issue or dilemma. The healthcare provider in this case study identified that Eleanor’s case involved ethical concerns due to the balance between the aggressive trial treatment and palliative care vs the differing family members’ perspectives. The identification of the issue and the stakeholders align with this ethical decision-making model component, hence making it effective.

The second component, moral judgment, means assessing the ethical aspects of the different options available to determine the morally correct course of action (Grote & Berens, 2020). In this case, the care provider weighed the benefits and harm related to the two available options: continuing aggressive treatment and transitioning to palliative care. However, after explaining the options to the family members, the morally right course of action was allowing the family members to make the decisions. The other component is moral intent and action, which entails committing to and implementing the ethical decision despite involving difficult choices. To ensure an effective approach, the care provider, in this case, should be prepared to implement the decision made in collaboration with family members in a compassionate and respectful manner.

Proposed Possible Solution Using Ethical Principles

The application of ethical principles guides a balanced solution to an ethical dilemma. In this case, the dilemma can be solved while considering the moral principles of beneficence and non-maleficence. Beneficence means doing good, and in this case, would mean promoting Eleanor’s well-being. The non-maleficence ethical principle means avoiding harm to the patient involved. Further aggressive treatment of the patient in this case study would cause more suffering and may not even achieve the purpose, considering it is experimental.

Therefore, it would not consider the non-maleficence principle. The proposed solution for this issue is, therefore, transitioning to palliative care. Eleanor has suffered for three years in aggressive cancer treatment. Therefore, the intervention that would benefit her is any intervention that reduces suffering and increases her quality of life, in this case, transition to palliative care. Palliative care will also focus on comfort and improving the patient’s well-being, which is why the proposed solution is being considered.

Conclusion

The above-presented case study explored the difficult ethical dilemmas in end-of-life care. The discussion has also shown the importance of communication and, more so, effective communication approaches in addressing ethical issues. The proposed solution in this case is to transition to palliative care, as it will provide comfort, reduce suffering, and improve well-being and quality of life. The solution was developed by considering the ethical decision-making model and bioethical principles.

References

Akdeniz, M., Yardımcı, B., & Kavukcu, E. (2021). Ethical considerations at end-of-life care. SAGE Open Medicine, 9, 20503121211000918. https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121211000918

Chen, W., Chung, J. O. K., Lam, K. K. W., & Molassiotis, A. (2023). End-of-life communication strategies for healthcare professionals: a scoping review. Palliative Medicine, 37(1), 61–74. https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163221133670

Grote, T., & Berens, P. (2020). On the ethics of algorithmic decision-making in healthcare. Journal of Medical Ethics, 46(3), 205–211. https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2019-105586

De Panfilis, L., Peruselli, C., Tanzi, S., & Botrugno, C. (2023). AI-Based Clinical Decision-Making Systems in Palliative Medicine: Ethical Challenges BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 13(2), 183–189. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2021-002948

Rosenwohl-Mack, S., Dohan, D., Matthews, T., Batten, J. N., & Dzeng, E. (2021). Understanding Experiences of Moral Distress in End-of-Life Care Among US and UK Physician Trainees: A Comparative Qualitative Study. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 36(7), 1890–1897. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-020-06314-y