Week 7: Ethical and Legal Responsibilities in Nursing
Week 7 Learning Objectives
By the end of this week, students will be able to:Describe the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nurses and its nine provisions.
Apply ethical principles (autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, fidelity, and veracity) to nursing practice.
Differentiate between ethical and legal issues in healthcare.
Analyze an ethical dilemma using a structured ethical decision-making framework.
Explain key legal concepts relevant to professional nursing, including the Nurse Practice Act, negligence, malpractice, and informed consent.
Required Readings & ResourcesBlack, B. P. (2024). Professional Nursing: Concepts & Challenges (10th ed.), Chapter 7: “Ethical and Legal Issues” (or equivalent pages)
American Nurses Association (ANA). (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (full document or key excerpts provided)
AACN (2021). The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education, Domain 8: Ethics
Video resources:
– “ANA Code of Ethics Overview” (10 min)
– “Ethical Decision-Making in Nursing” (12 min)
Ethical Decision-Making Models (e.g., MORAL model or Four Topics Method – provided in module)
Week 7 Assignments1. Main Discussion Board: Applying the ANA Code of Ethics
Due: Initial Post: Wednesday, 11:59 PM
Minimum of 2 Peer Responses: Sunday, 11:59 PM
The ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses serves as the non-negotiable ethical standard for the nursing profession. It guides nurses in fulfilling their primary commitment to the patient while navigating complex healthcare environments.After completing the Week 7 readings and videos:Select one provision from the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses (2015) that you find particularly meaningful at this stage of your nursing education.
Explain the chosen provision in your own words and discuss why it resonates with you.
Describe a realistic clinical scenario (hypothetical or from observation) in which this provision would guide a nurse’s actions or decision-making.
Analyze how applying this provision upholds one or more of the core ethical principles (autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, or justice).
Your initial post must be 300–350 words minimum. Support your discussion with at least two scholarly sources (the ANA Code of Ethics counts as one; the second must be the textbook or a peer-reviewed article). Use APA 7th edition for citations and references.Response Requirements:
Reply substantively to at least two classmates who selected different provisions. In each response (100–150 words), compare or contrast their chosen provision with yours, or discuss how the two provisions could interact in a real-world situation.Grading Rubric (25 points): Accurate explanation of the selected provision and its relevance (8 pts)
Clear clinical scenario and connection to ethical principles (8 pts)
Depth of analysis and personal insight (5 pts)
Scholarly support, APA formatting, and quality of peer responses (4 pts)
2. Ethical Dilemma Case Analysis Paper
Due: Sunday, 11:59 PM
Points: 35 points
Length: 3–4 pages (not including title page and reference page), double-spaced, APA 7th edition format.Assignment Instructions:Read the following ethical dilemma scenario (provided in the Week 7 module):Case Scenario:
Ms. Elena Ramirez, a 72-year-old widow with advanced ovarian cancer, has been admitted to the oncology unit. She has expressed repeatedly in writing and verbally that she does not want cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or mechanical ventilation if her heart stops. Her adult daughter, who is her healthcare proxy, insists that “everything possible” be done to keep her mother alive, stating that her mother is “just depressed and doesn’t really mean it.” The oncology team is divided: some members believe the patient’s wishes should be honored, while others feel pressured to follow the daughter’s demands. As the nurse assigned to Ms. Ramirez, you are caught in the middle.Paper Structure (use these headings):Introduction (½ page) Briefly summarize the ethical dilemma.
Identification of Key Ethical Principles (1 page) Identify and explain at least three ethical principles involved in this case (e.g., autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice).
Discuss how each principle applies to the scenario.
Application of Ethical Decision-Making Framework (1–1.5 pages) Choose one structured ethical decision-making model (e.g., MORAL model or Four Topics Method).
Apply the model step-by-step to analyze the dilemma.
Recommend what you, as the nurse, should do and justify your recommendation using the ANA Code of Ethics.
Legal Considerations and Reflection (½–1 page) Identify at least one legal issue in this scenario (e.g., informed consent, advance directives, or surrogate decision-making).
Reflect on the potential consequences if the nurse fails to advocate appropriately.
Discuss one strategy you will use in your future practice to handle similar ethical-legal conflicts.
Requirements: Minimum of three scholarly sources (ANA Code of Ethics, textbook, and one additional peer-reviewed source).
Maintain a professional, objective tone while demonstrating critical thinking.
Submission: Upload as a Microsoft Word document (.docx) to the assignment dropbox.Grading Criteria (35 points): Accurate identification and application of ethical principles (10 pts)
Thorough application of the chosen decision-making model (10 pts)
Clear discussion of legal issues and personal reflection (8 pts)
APA formatting, organization, grammar, and scholarly support (7 pts)
Tips for Success: Focus on the nurse’s role as patient advocate.
Avoid simply stating opinions — ground your analysis in ethical principles and the ANA Code.
Use specific examples from the scenario to support your points.
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