MCCCD Program Description

Ethical Decision-Making for Nurses

Course: NCE244

First Term: 2009 Summer I

Lecture 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s) 3 Load
Subject Type: Occupational
Load Formula: S

Description: Ethical decision-making, construct and theory for nurses in acute care and skilled nursing facilities. Format for utilitarian, deontological, caring, feminist and casuist theory in conjunction with a methodological approach to ethical conflicts. Descriptions of roles and functions of nurses in ethics committees and consults.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Summarize the ethical theories of utilitarianism, casuistry, deontology, caring and feminist ethical theory and perspective. (I,II) 2. Compare and contrast moral reasoning and ethical decision-making. (I,IV) 3. Define the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, justice and nonmaleficence. (II) 4. Explain a four step approach to dealing with ethical conflicts. (III) 5. Demonstrate the Socratic method for discussing and analyzing ethical conflicts. (III,IV) 6. Identify three major ethical conflicts in healthcare to include withdrawal of care, capacity, and compliance with the right of the individual. (IV,V,VI) 7. Describe the application of the ethical principles in case study format. (VI,VII,VIII) 8. Describe the use and purpose of ethics committees for nurses in healthcare facilities. (VII) 9. Summarize the concept of medical futility in patients in healthcare facilities. (VII,VIII)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Introduction to Ethical Decision Making for Nurses A. Ethical Reasoning versus Morality B. Influences of Society, Religion, Community on Ethical Choices C. Historical Background in Ethics D. Socratic Method E. American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nursing II. Overview of Ethical Theories and Principles A. Utilitarianism B. Deontology C. Casuistry D. Caring Ethics E. Feminist Approach F. Autonomy G. Beneficence H. Justice I. Nonmaleficence III. Four Step Approach to Ethical Decision-Making in the Clinical Setting A. Determine Medical Indications B. Determine Patient Preferences C. Assess Quality of Life D. Include Contextual Features IV. Withdrawal of Care and End of Life Decision-Making for Nurses A. Legal Background ARS36.02 B. Withdrawal of Food and Nutrition C. Role of Medical Power of Attorney (MPOA) D. Role and line of surrogacy for Arizona E. Application of Registered Nurse (RN) Role in Patient Case Study V. Capacity A. Legal Definition B. Incapacitated/Debilitated Adults C. Minors and Children VI. Rights of the Individual Discussions A. Rights of the Fetus B. Stem Cell Research C. Physical Augmentation D. Termination of Pregnancy E. Suicide/Right to life/Self-determination VII. Ethics Committees in Healthcare Facilities A. Composition of an Ethics Committee B. Role of the RN in an Ethics Consult C. Purpose and Outcomes of an Ethics Consult VIII. The Concept of Medical Futility A. Moral Distress for Nurses B. Conflict Resolution for Nurses

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 4/28/2009

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.