Week 6: The Doctorally Prepared Nurse: Ethical Issues and Advocacy for Social Change
Throughout this course, you have considered and reflected on how the DNP-prepared nurse advocates for positive social change, whether that stems from direct patient-level care or more broadly to that of community-level or population-based actions to promote nursing practice and healthcare delivery.
As a DNP-prepared nurse, you will also function as a nurse leader in identifying and serving as a champion of those nursing practice and healthcare-related issues that merit transformation. In what ways will your advocacy and leadership impact the patients, communities, and populations you serve?
This week, you will examine ethical issues relevant to the role of the DNP-prepared nurse. You will explore ethical issues you may likely encounter in nursing practice and reflect on potential strategies to mitigate ethical violations in practice. You also consider how the role of the DNP-prepared nurse is to promote advocacy for social change. In your Blog Assignment, you and your colleagues will have the opportunity to share your perspectives and examine your role for positive leadership and you continue your program of study.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Analyze ethical issues related to the role of the DNP-prepared nurse
- Analyze ethical issues encountered in professional nursing practice
- Analyze the role of the DNP-prepared nurse in promoting advocacy for social change
Learning Resources
Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)
Discussion: Ethics and the DNP-Prepared Nurse
- You are likely already upholding ethics in nursing and healthcare delivery in your current nursing practice experience. As mentioned in the introduction for this week, a patient-focused approach that promotes the delivery of safe, quality, and cost-effective healthcare for promoting positive patient outcomes, represents a fundamental alignment to ethical principles for the delivery of healthcare. In your journey toward becoming a DNP-prepared nurse, you will continue to uphold ethical principles in your nursing practice and will likely continue to serve as an advocate for adhering to these principles in all you do.
For this Discussion, reflect on the case studies/scenarios related to ethical challenges presented in this week’s Learning Resources. Think about how these ethical challenges may mirror your own experiences in nursing practice. Consider what other ethical challenges may arise in your own nursing practice or as you continue your program of study.
To prepare:
- Review the case studies/scenarios related to ethical challenges presented in this week’s Learning Resources.
- Reflect on ethical challenges related to the organization or at the point of care that you may have encountered in your nursing practice.
- Consider what new ethical challenges you might face once you obtain your doctoral degree.
By Day 3 of Week 6
Post an explanation of at least two significant ethical issues relevant to the DNP-prepared nurse. Then explain how these issues might compare to the types of issues you have encountered in your practice. Be specific and provide examples.
By Day 5 of Week 6
Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses and respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days by expanding upon your colleague’s post or suggesting an alternative approach to the ethical issue described by your colleague.
