What are some current ethical issues in nursing? Current ethical issues in nursing stem from the fact that the health care system, much like the business model that drives our world, is based on what can be profitably served by a corporation, a practice that often leads to corporate concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a small group of powerful shareholders. Healthcare worker organizing has evolved over the years in response to these trends, culminating in recent protests against the mistreatment of African American and Latino nursing staff and abuse of medical procedures and pharmaceuticals. While these situations may seem outrageous, what is lost in the scrums of hospital life is an analysis of how everything is done - from the administration of medications to the treatment of sick and injured patients.
Nurses, like other Professional Ethics Course for Nurses who work in health care, have long been required to follow a set of rules and standards, which often conflict with those of other professionals working under them. Professional organizations such as the American Nurses Association and the National Council on Quality Assurance in Health and Hospitals work to standardize the ethical code of nursing. In order to become a registered nurse, every nurse must pass a test based on standards defined by these organizations. Registered nurses must also complete a professional degree in nursing in order to specialize in a certain area of nursing, although this does not prevent one from specializing in another area altogether.
The ethical issues in nursing stem from both professional and personal conflicts between nursing professionals and nurses who want to improve their conditions and those who work under them. The current problems in nursing are also about access to quality care and the ability of nurses to ensure that it is obtained. While some have blamed the shortage of nurses on age-related factors, the lack of new recruits means that the shortage will likely persist until the system adjusts its processes. As the profession undergoes changes and expands its scope, the ethical code and standards governing nursing will have to evolve along with them.