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Ethical considerations for nurse-managed health centers
1Quantum Foundation Center for Innovation in School and Community Well Being, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA. sbeidler@fau.edu
The Nursing Clinics of North America
|December 6, 2005
Summary
Nurse practitioners (NPs) in nurse-managed health centers (NMHCs) face ethical distress advocating for vulnerable patients. Addressing this distress is crucial for equitable health care access.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Ethics
- Nursing Practice
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Ethical dilemmas are frequent in healthcare.
- Nurse practitioners (NPs) in nurse-managed health centers (NMHCs) serve vulnerable populations facing barriers.
- Patient advocacy is a core nursing tenet.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the ethical challenges NPs face when advocating for marginalized patients.
- To emphasize the need to anticipate and address NP distress related to healthcare access barriers.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative analysis of ethical issues in NMHC settings.
- Exploration of NP roles in patient advocacy.
- Review of barriers to healthcare access for vulnerable populations.
Main Results:
- NPs encounter significant ethical distress due to systemic barriers.
- Advocacy for marginalized patients involves navigating complex social and economic factors.
- The commitment to patient care necessitates confronting these systemic challenges.
Conclusions:
- The ethical distress experienced by NPs in NMHCs requires proactive strategies.
- Addressing barriers to healthcare access is integral to ethical nursing practice.
- Support systems for NPs are essential to mitigate distress and ensure patient advocacy.
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