Posted: July 14th, 2016

Ethical principles in decision making

Introduction: Professional nurses need to be able to recognize the regulations and scope under which they practice and apply ethical principles in decision making.

Case Study:

As a staff nurse in an intensive care unit, you accompany Dr. K to assess the condition of a patient, Mr. E, currently in the emergency department. The nursing home where Mr. E resides has brought him to the hospital because of lung congestion.

The medical notes indicate that Mr. E is a 67-year-old white male with diabetes