D129 Task 3 Position paper revision.docx Position Paper HEM1-HEM1 Task 3 Western Gov

D129 Task 3 Position paper revision.docx    Position Paper  HEM1-HEM1 Task 3   Western Governors University    Position Paper   Ethical Challenges and Legal Implications  Nurses are faced with many ethical challenges every day. Along with those ethical challenges there are legal implications that encompass these challenges. The two ethical challenges, as well as the legal implications of these challenges, I chose to discuss are end of life care and incompetent staff.   End of life care is an ethical challenge nurses in my organization have to deal with from time to time. Autonomy of the patient at the end of life is a very important part of the patients care. Allowing the patient to make their own choice of what is best for them in their care is their right (Denisco & Barker, 2016). Being an advocate for the patient right to choose is the nurses ethical duty. Regardless of the patients ability to function or how close they are to dying the nurse is required to respect the rights and dignity of all patients or all people in general. A patients unique values, preferences, and needs are key components to guide patient centered care through the nursing process. For nurses ethically this can be hard to deal with sometimes due to patients families not wanting to honor the patients choice to not be resuscitated. With an Advanced Directive, a legally recognized document, on file for the patient this prevents family from overriding the patients choice and protects the staff from legal ramifications for honoring the patients