Professional Ethics: What Would You Do?

  Today's health care environment gives nurses many reasons to be conflicted. Genetic testing, abortion, and end of life care are just some of the areas in which nurses may face ethical dilemmas. Consider how you feel about the following issues: • Respecting the wishes of a suffering client that he is permitted to die with dignity, • Respecting the health surrogate's wishes regarding termination of life support, • Or even observing another nurse take two tablets of oxycodone as ordered but keeping one for herself.