Develop a solution to a specific ethical dilemma faced by a health care professional by applying ethical principles. Describe the issues and a possible solution in a 3-5-page paper.Introduction

Sample Answer for NHS-FPX 4000 Assessment 1 Applying Ethical Principles

Nurses have a vital function in medicine, dedicating 70% of their time to patient care and closely monitoring the effectiveness of treatments (Leland et al., 2024). Frequently, they are presented with patient inquiries, allowing them to attend to worries and provide high-quality healthcare. To enhance their confidence and establish their authority, nurses might use research to progress treatment methodologies and improve patient results. This may include assisting with evidence-based care and supervising initiatives. Nurses with solid research abilities may immediately apply state-of-the-art research to patient care, influencing the present and future of healthcare. This paper aims to provide research results on promoting evidence-based practice in managing staffing shortages in nursing.

Staffing Shortages

Hospitals face a severe public health crisis due to substantial nurse staffing challenges. According to the International Centre on Nurse Migration, there is a projected shortfall of 13 million nurses by 2030 (Griffiths et al., 2021). This problem significantly impacts hospital administrators and patients’ overall well-being, especially in emergency departments, pediatrics, and critical care units. To tackle these difficulties, top-level managers must develop novel tactics to guarantee enough personnel levels and enhanced patient care. As a medical professional, I know staffing shortages impact practitioners, patients, and the healthcare industry. Insufficient staffing leads to employee fatigue, extreme tiredness, insufficient interpersonal relationships, and subpar quality of care for patients. Based on my firsthand observation, a nurse at the same clinic administered incorrect medication to a female, exacerbating her health condition. The nurse had a prolonged period of overwork due to a lack of enough time to provide patient care. Personnel shortages concern me and my colleagues due to their potential impact on us.

Article Selection Process

I conducted a comprehensive search on PubMed Central and the American Journal of Biomedical Science & Research to find scholarly articles that have undergone peer review. To filter down the extensive resources, I searched using specific keywords related to healthcare staffing shortages, such as nurse shortages, medical personnel shortages, worker burnout, clinician shortages, the standard of care, the healthcare labor market, patient safety, and skill gaps. By using Boolean operators, I was able to enhance the effectiveness of my search by combining phrases. When searching for literature on the consequences of nurse shortage, I used keywords such as patient safety, healthcare staff shortfall, and quality of care (Tamata et al., 2021). By giving priority to ‘journal articles’ and focusing on nursing as my topic, I limited my search to peer-reviewed publications.

Assessing Credibility

I used the CRAAP test to evaluate the trustworthiness of the source. This examination evaluates sources’ currentness, pertinence, credibility, precision, and intention. To verify the relevance of each source to my subject, I examined the publication date, ensuring that it fell within a five-year timeframe. I selected sites that extensively cover my issue and are based on a thorough study to ensure their relevance. I assessed the reliability of the sources by confirming the writers’ trustworthiness and competence in healthcare staffing. I ensured that the premises and assertions of the sources were substantiated by evidence and adequately referenced. Ultimately, I verified the sources to ensure that the data was free from any bias (Shamsi & Peyravi, 2020).

 Annotated Bibliography

Leland, N. E., Prusynski, R. A., Shore, A. D., Cary, M. P., Falvey, J., Mroz, T., & Saliba, D. (2024). Skilled nursing facility staffing shortages: Sources, strategies, and impacts on staff who stayed. Health Services Research. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.14355

The research conducted by Leland et al. (2024) examines the insufficiency of personnel in skilled nursing facilities during the COVID-19 epidemic. The study included 94 skilled nursing facility executives who participated in individual interviews. The results revealed deficiencies in staffing levels across all positions, including direct care, support services, administrative workers, and leadership. The shortages were attributed to salary competition, familial caring obligations, and fatigue. The research suggests that implementing policies is necessary to assist skilled nursing facilities personnel in various positions, including addressing overarching factors like wage disparities and burnout. Additionally, it recommends using approaches like cross-training and work role flexibility to maximize effectiveness.

Griffiths, P., Saville, C., Ball, J. E., Jones, J., & Monks, T. (2021). Beyond ratios – flexible and resilient nurse staffing options to deliver cost-effective hospital care and address staff shortages: A simulation and economic modeling study. International Journal of Nursing Studies, p. 117, 103901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103901

In their research, Griffiths et al. (2021) assessed the cost-effectiveness of several methods for determining the initial number of nurses needed in general medical/surgical units while also incorporating flexible personnel to accommodate changes in demand. A simulation was created using agent-based modeling to represent the movement of hospital inpatient units between states of understaffing, appropriate staffing, or overstaffing in response to staff supply and demand changes. The researchers compared a typical staffing plan and two alternative plans: one with larger baseline rosters, referred to as the “resilient” plan, and another with lower baseline rosters, referred to as the “flexible” plan. The findings indicated that staffing strategies with larger initial rosters resulted in increased expenses but also yielded enhanced outcomes. The research determined that monitoring patient demand shift by shift may help make informed decisions about staff allocation. However, it is crucial to ensure that the initial number of staff members scheduled is enough.

Tamata, A. T., Mohammadnezhad, M., & Tamani, L. (2021). Registered nurses’ perceptions on the factors affecting nursing shortage in the Republic of Vanuatu Hospitals: A qualitative study. PLoS ONE, 16(5), e0251890. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251890

The research conducted by Tamata et al. (2021) centers on the dearth of certified nurses in Vanuatu, a Pacific nation, and its influence on their effectiveness. The study included 25 nurses from three hospitals in Vanuatu, who were questioned using a semi-structured open-ended questionnaire. Four themes were identified: challenging work environments, characteristics that strengthen or support, and perceived hazards. The survey identified challenging working circumstances in the nursing profession, such as excessive workload, insufficient staff, irregular working hours, inadequate support, and limited chances for professional growth. The perceived hazards included stress, physiological and psychological dangers, and social and familial concerns. The results may assist policymakers in tackling the scarcity of nursing professionals and its consequences by enhancing and creating appropriate policies to fulfill the demand and improve the provision of high-quality healthcare services.

Shamsi, A., & Peyravi, H. (2020). Nursing shortage, a different challenge in Iran: A systematic review. PubMed, 34, 8. https://doi.org/10.34171/mjiri.34.8

The research conducted by Shamsi and Peyravi (2020) examined the underlying factors contributing to the shortage of nurses worldwide, explicitly focusing on the situation in Iran. The research identified the primary factors contributing to the issue: the aging nursing staff, insufficient training, the aging population, and job abandonment. In Iran, the primary concerns were a need for more interest in pursuing a career in nursing, instances of nurses leaving their jobs, insufficient income, diminished social standing, and a wrong view of the nursing profession. Measures to tackle the scarcity in Iran included augmenting compensation, revamping the work environment, enhancing public awareness, preserving the current nursing personnel, and providing adaptable work arrangements. The research determined that nurse shortages are complex and should be addressed by considering the specific circumstances of each nation.

Lessons Learned/Conclusion

Through this research, I gained valuable insights into the issue of medical staff shortages and identified the primary contributing factors. To address the shortfall in healthcare staffing, it is crucial to implement focused interventions that target the root causes. These interventions should improve work-life balance, enhance pay, and strengthen human resource management and planning. After studying the correlation between limited medical access and the rise in emergency room utilization, I have gained a comprehensive understanding. This was achieved by examining the impact of nurse shortages on emergency room visits. I only understood this concept once I read the article. Creating an annotated bibliography was instrumental in gathering a collection of scholarly journal articles that focused on the issue of healthcare service shortages. I will utilize my resources to locate pertinent information for the research paper. The annotated bibliography highlighted the importance of enacting suitable legislation to support current solutions, such as migrant healthcare workers (Shamsi & Peyravi, 2020). This research highlights the significance of effectively managed and adequately staffed medical professionals in providing excellent patient care and the urgency to address staffing shortages.

 

References

Griffiths, P., Saville, C., Ball, J. E., Jones, J., & Monks, T. (2021). Beyond ratios – flexible and resilient nurse staffing options to deliver cost-effective hospital care and address staff shortages: A simulation and economic modeling study. International Journal of Nursing Studies, p. 117, 103901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103901

Leland, N. E., Prusynski, R. A., Shore, A. D., Cary, M. P., Falvey, J., Mroz, T., & Saliba, D. (2024). Skilled nursing facility staffing shortages: Sources, strategies, and impacts on staff who stayed. Health Services Research. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.14355

Shamsi, A., & Peyravi, H. (2020). Nursing shortage, a different challenge in Iran: A systematic review. PubMed, 34, 8. https://doi.org/10.34171/mjiri.34.8

Tamata, A. T., Mohammadnezhad, M., & Tamani, L. (2021). Registered nurses’ perceptions on the factors affecting nursing shortage in the Republic of Vanuatu Hospitals: A qualitative study. PLoS ONE, 16(5), e0251890. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251890

 

Whether you are a nurse, a public health professional, a health care administrator, or in another role in the health care field, you must base your decisions on a set of ethical principles and values. Your decisions must be fair, equitable, and defensible. Each discipline has established a professional code of ethics to guide ethical behavior. In this assessment, you will practice working through an ethical dilemma as described in a case study. Your practice will help you develop a method for formulating ethical decisions.

Demonstration of Proficiency

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:

Competency 1: Apply information literacy and library research skills to obtain scholarly information in the field of health care.

Apply academic peer-reviewed journal articles relevant to an ethical problem or issue as evidence to support an analysis of the case.

Competency 3: Apply ethical principles and academic standards to the study of health care.

Summarize the facts in a case study and use the three components of an ethical decision-making model to analyze an ethical problem or issue and the factors that contributed to it.

Discuss the effectiveness of the communication approaches present in a case study.

Discuss the effectiveness of the approach used by a professional to deal with problems or issues involving ethical practice in a case study.

Apply ethical principles to a possible solution to an ethical problem or issue described in a case study.

Competency 4: Write for a specific audience, in appropriate tone and style, in accordance with Capella’s writing standards.

Write clearly and logically, with correct use of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.

Write following APA style for in-text citations, quotes, and references.

Instructions

Note: The requirements outlined below correspond to the grading criteria in the scoring guide. At a minimum, be sure to address each point. In addition, you are encouraged to review the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed.

For this assessment, develop a solution to a specific ethical dilemma faced by a health care professional. In your assessment:

Access the Ethical Case Studies media piece to review the case studies you will be using for this assessment.

Select the case most closely related to your area of interest and use it to complete the assessment.

Note: The case study may not supply all of the information you need. In such cases, you should consider a variety of possibilities and infer potential conclusions. However, please be sure to identify any assumptions or speculations you make.

Include the selected case study in your reference list, using proper APA Style and Format.

Summarize the facts in a case study and use the three components of an ethical decision-making model to analyze an ethical problem or issue and the factors that contributed to it.

Identify which case study you selected and briefly summarize the facts surrounding it. Identify the problem or issue that presents an ethical dilemma or challenge and describe that dilemma or challenge.

Identify who is involved or affected by the ethical problem or issue.

Access the Ethical Decision-Making Model media piece and use the three components of the ethical decision-making model (moral awareness, moral judgment, and ethical behavior) to analyze the ethical issues.

Apply the three components outlined in the Ethical Decision-Making Model media.

Analyze the factors that contributed to the ethical problem or issue identified in the case study.

Describe the factors that contributed to the problem or issue and explain how they contributed.

Apply academic peer-reviewed journal articles relevant to an ethical problem or issue as evidence to support an analysis of the case.

In addition to the readings provided, use the Capella library to locate at least one academic peer-reviewed journal article relevant to the problem or issue that you can use to support your analysis of the situation. The How Do I Find Peer-Reviewed Articles? library guide will help you locate appropriate references.

Cite and apply key principles from the journal article as evidence to support your critical thinking and analysis of the ethical problem or issue.

Review the Think Critically About Source Quality resource.

Assess the credibility of the information source.

Assess the relevance of the information source.

Discuss the effectiveness of the communication approaches present in a case study.

Describe how the health care professional in the case study communicated with others.

Assess instances where the professional communicated effectively or ineffectively.

Explain which communication approaches should be used and which ones should be avoided.

Describe the consequences of using effective and non-effective communication approaches.

Discuss the effectiveness of the approach used by a professional to deal with problems or issues involving ethical practice in a case study.

Describe the actions taken in response to the ethical dilemma or issue presented in the case study.

Summarize how well the professional managed professional responsibilities and priorities to resolve the problem or issue in the case.

Discuss the key lessons this case provides for health care professionals.

Apply ethical principles to a possible solution to an ethical problem or issue described in a case study.

Describe the proposed solution.

Discuss how the approach makes this professional more effective or less effective in building relationships across disciplines within his or her organization.

Discuss how likely it is the proposed solution will foster professional collaboration.

Write clearly and logically, with correct use of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.

Apply the principles of effective composition.

Determine the proper application of the rules of grammar and mechanics.

Write using APA style for in-text citations, quotes, and references.

Determine the proper application of APA formatting requirements and scholarly writing standards.

Integrate information from outside sources into academic writing by appropriately quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, following APA style.

Example Assessment: You may use the following to give you an idea of what a Proficient or higher rating on the scoring guide would look like:

Assessment 1 Example [PDF].

Additional Requirements

Your assessment should also meet the following requirements:

Length: 3–5 typed, double-spaced pages, not including the title page and reference page.

Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.

APA template: Use the APA Style Paper Template [DOCX] as the paper format and use the APA Style Paper Tutorial [DOCX] for guidance.

Written communication: Use correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

References: Integrate information from outside sources to include at least two references (the case study and an academic peer-reviewed journal article) and three in-text citations within the paper.

APA format: Follow current APA guidelines for in-text citation of outside sources in the body of your paper and also on the reference page.

If you would like assistance in organizing your assessment, or if you simply have a question about your assessment, do not hesitate to ask faculty or the teaching assistants in the NHS Learner Success Lab for guidance and suggestions.

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APA Writing Checklist

Use this document as a checklist for each paper you will write throughout your GCU graduate program. Follow specific instructions indicated in the assignment and use this checklist to help ensure correct grammar and APA formatting. Refer to the APA resources available in the GCU Library and Student Success Center.

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☐ APA paper template (located in the Student Success Center/Writing Center) is utilized for the correct format of the paper. APA style is applied, and format is correct throughout.

☐  The title page is present. APA format is applied correctly. There are no errors.

☐ The introduction is present. APA format is applied correctly. There are no errors.

☐ Topic is well defined.

☐ Strong thesis statement is included in the introduction of the paper.

☐ The thesis statement is consistently threaded throughout the paper and included in the conclusion.

☐ Paragraph development: Each paragraph has an introductory statement, two or three sentences as the body of the paragraph, and a transition sentence to facilitate the flow of information. The sections of the main body are organized to reflect the main points of the author. APA format is applied correctly. There are no errors.

☐ All sources are cited. APA style and format are correctly applied and are free from error.

☐ Sources are completely and correctly documented on a References page, as appropriate to assignment and APA style, and format is free of error.

Scholarly Resources: Scholarly resources are written with a focus on a specific subject discipline and usually written by an expert in the same subject field. Scholarly resources are written for an academic audience.

Examples of Scholarly Resources include: Academic journals, books written by experts in a field, and formally published encyclopedias and dictionaries.

Peer-Reviewed Journals: Peer-reviewed journals are evaluated prior to publication by experts in the journal’s subject discipline. This process ensures that the articles published within the journal are academically rigorous and meet the required expectations of an article in that subject discipline.

Empirical Journal Article: This type of scholarly resource is a subset of scholarly articles that reports the original finding of an observational or experimental research study. Common aspects found within an empirical article include: literature review, methodology, results, and discussion.

Adapted from “Evaluating Resources: Defining Scholarly Resources,” located in Research Guides in the GCU Library.

☐ The writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic English. Utilize writing resources such as Grammarly, LopesWrite report, and ThinkingStorm to check your writing.