Adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioners (AGACNPs) play a pivotal role in the healthcare sector, delivering compassionate and comprehensive patient care both during later adulthood and the final stages of life. The patients they serve benefit greatly from their knowledge and commitment.
Recognizing the paramount significance of ethics in healthcare is crucial in this critical phase. Ethical principles guide their practice in defining and delivering quality care. They also shape their patients’ dignity, respect and overall wellbeing.
This article explores the significance of ethics in healthcare. Upholding values for patients in later adulthood or at the end of life highlights a moral imperative.
The Foundations Of Ethical Healthcare
Four critical values that form the bedrock of ethical healthcare are autonomy, benevolence, non-maleficence and justice. The value that freedom places upon honoring patients’ right to control their own healthcare decisions is particularly significant concerning later adulthood or end-of-life situations. These individuals possess a wealth of lived experience and values, and healthcare providers must give patients adequate information and assistance to make informed choices based on their values and objectives.
Acting in the best interests of their patients is an obligation of healthcare professionals, as highlighted by beneficence. Healthcare providers must prioritize actions and interventions that promote wellbeing and alleviate suffering in patients in later adulthood or at the end of their life. They are also required to enhance their patients’ quality of life.
Respecting Autonomy And Promoting Informed Decision-Making
Respecting autonomy and promoting informed decision-making are crucial aspects of ethical healthcare for patients in later adulthood or at the end of life. These individuals have unique needs, values and preferences that must be acknowledged and respected throughout their care journey.
Respecting autonomy means recognizing and upholding an individual’s right to make decisions about their healthcare. It involves actively including patients in discussions about their conditions, treatment options and goals of care. Healthcare providers should ensure that patients have access to accurate and understandable information, allowing them to make informed decisions based on their values and beliefs.
Maintaining Dignity And Compassion
For patients in later life or approaching the end of their life, preserving dignity and showing compassion are vital in ethical healthcare. Treating these individuals with the utmost respect, empathy and sensitivity should be a given. Their life experiences hold inherent worth that we ought to acknowledge.
Preserving dignity necessitates respecting each patient’s autonomy and individuality. Healthcare providers should establish an atmosphere encouraging admiration for patients’ values, beliefs and cultural backgrounds. This involves using inclusive language, actively listening to the patient’s concerns, and valuing their input in decision-making. Preserving dignity and ensuring that patients feel safe and comfortable during care interactions require maintaining confidentiality and respecting privacy.
Advancing Education And Acquiring Ethical Skills During University Studies
It is crucial to advance your education and acquire the necessary skills during your university studies to ensure the delivery of ethical care for patients in later adulthood or at the end of life. Pursuing specialized programs, such as the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner track, provides you with in-depth knowledge of ethical principles and their application in healthcare.
The post-master’s AGACNP certificate program from Rockhurst University enables you to expand your scope of practice if you are a proactive and experienced nurse practitioner looking to improve your clinical abilities. By enrolling in this program, you will be able to acquire certification in caring for adults and older adults with acute and complex conditions in specialized fields such as cardiology, oncology, endocrinology and others.
This certification will expand your career prospects and allow you to take on more advanced responsibilities in your practice. The program is designed to be completed within four semesters, enabling you to quickly enhance your clinical competencies and seize new opportunities in your professional journey. These programs offer courses that explore ethical decision-making, patient advocacy and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Addressing Ethical Challenges
Ethical concerns must be addressed to provide patients with ethical healthcare in later adulthood or at the end of their lives. Complex medical judgments, cultural factors, legal and ethical frameworks, and differing viewpoints among healthcare professionals, patients and their families can all contribute to these difficulties. While navigating these issues, healthcare workers must uphold the moral standards of justice, benevolence and non-maleficence.
Finding a balance between pain management and the danger of addiction is a frequent ethical challenge. Patients who are older or near the end of their lives might need to use potent painkillers. Healthcare professionals must, however, carefully evaluate and keep an eye on any potential hazards of addiction and dependency linked to these medications. This requires a delicate balance involving thorough assessment of the patient’s pain levels, regular reassessment of their pain management plan, and open communication to address concerns or potential signs of misuse.
Collaborating And Advocating For Ethical Care
Healthcare professionals must collaborate and advocate for ethical care when caring for patients in later adulthood or toward the end of their life. It is necessary to uphold the principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice while prioritizing patients’ best interests.
Vital collaboration is necessary for navigating the complexities of ethical care. The involvement of physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists and other relevant professionals in a collaborative interdisciplinary healthcare team is crucial. The use of collaboration enables a comprehensive and holistic approach to patient care. The patient’s overall physical, emotional and spiritual health is covered. Sharing expertise, perspectives and insights improves decision-making and patient outcomes.
Conclusion
Compassionate and comprehensive care for patients in later adulthood or at the end of life requires ethical healthcare, a commitment expected of AGACNPs. The best possible care for patients during these critical stages of life is ensured through their essential role. Upholding the principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice is necessary to respect patients’ dignity in the healthcare environment. Informed decisions are made possible with support and compassion. By making ethics a foundation of their work, these professionals contribute to the happiness and comfort of their patients.