Building the framework for dealing with ethical issues

Making ethical decisions is difficult. Professional and personal values enter heavily into what one member of the health care team considers the "right" decision, and these values may interfere with the decision-making process of the team. As team members begin to realize how their ethical values affect the decision, they may be better able to resolve the conflict within the team. An understanding of each member's ethics and values also can serve to enhance decision making. Nurses are just beginning to view themselves as part of the ethical decision-making team. In order to take an ethical stance, nurses need to have a better understanding of ethical principles to use in the decision-making process. Nurse needs to develop a sound philosophical base in ethics through study and continuing education to be an active part of the health care team making ethical decisions. Nurses have an obligation to move away from the emotional response to ethical dilemmas toward using a more sound basis for these decisions.