Assessment Three – Reflective Essay

Students will be required to submit a 2500-word written assignment answering one of three statements that relate to content in the OLTs. Registered Nurses face ethical challenges on a regular basis and must be able to consider and reflect how these issues affect us both personally and professionally. At the completion of each OLT a question or statement is put forth for students to consider, two articles have been provided to help you formulate your answer.

Students must choose one (1) of the three (3) statements and address the following points in their essay:

1. Consider the statement that you have chosen and discuss possible ethical issues using current literature support your discussion.
2. Reflect on how this statement may impact on your professional nursing practice.

Choice 1

Consider the statement below:

The use of opiates and opioid medications in the management of chronic migraine is controversial, yet some studies show Tramadol to be effective, and many patients are prescribed opiate based medications to control migraine. It is therefore important that health care professions, including nurses, convey accurate information to service users and carers regarding effective migraine treatment.

Review the following two journal articles:

Tepper, S. J. (2012). Opioids Should Not Be Used in Migraine. Headache: The Journal Of Head & Face Pain,    5230-34

Alemdar, M., Pekdemir, M., & Selekler, H. (2007). Single-dose intravenous tramadol for acute migraine pain in adults: a single-blind, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Clinical Therapeutics, 29(7), 1441-1447

Choice 2 (Cardiovascular)

Consider the statement below:

The routine supply of oxygen to patients experiencing a suspected myocardial infarction is recommended by expert guidelines worldwide. However, recent research argues that the provision of unnecessary supplemental oxygen may actually extend myocardial injury. What is the role of the nurse in providing oxygen to patients experiencing a suspected myocardial infarction when the expert guidelines and research data may be conflicting?

Review the following two journal articles:

Burls, A., Emparanza, J. I., Quinn, T., & Cabello, J. B. (2010). Oxygen use in acute myocardial infarction: An online survey of health professionals’ practice and beliefs. Emergency Medicine Journal, 27(4), 283-286. doi:10.1136/emj.2009.077370

Hofmann, R., James, S. K., Svensson, L., Witt, N., Frick, M., Lindahl, B., . . . Jernberg, T. (2014). DETermination of the role of OXygen in suspected acute myocardial infarction trial. The American Heart Journal, 167(3), 322-8. doi:http://dx.doi.org.libproxy.

Choice 3 (Respiratory)

Consider the statement below:

Home supply oxygen may be provided to patients with chronic respiratory diseases. However there is evidence that some patients who receive home supplied oxygen may continue to smoke resulting in a dangerous fire hazard as well as potentially negating the beneficial effects of the supplemental oxygen. Knowing the associated risks should the Registered Nurse encourage the supply of home supplied oxygen to patients with chronic respiratory diseases who are known to continue to smoke?

Review the following two journal articles:

Edelman, D. A., Maleyko-Jacobs, S., White, M. T., Lucas, C. E., & Ledgerwood, A. M. (2008). Smoking and home oxygen therapy – A preventable public health hazard. Journal of Burn Care and Research, 29(1), 119-122. doi:10.1097/BCR.0b013e31815f5a3a

Senderovich, H. (2016). How can we balance ethics and law when treating smokers? Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal, 7(2), e0011. doi:10.5041/RMMJ.10238

(Note: It is self-explanatory that the second article discusses ethics from a medical perspective. This does not alter the facts that for all intents and purposes nursing ethics and medical ethics are closely aligned).

Reflective Written Assignment:

Students must consider the statement above and address the following points in their essay:

1. Consider the statement and discuss possible ethical issues, in the context of patient care, using current literature to support your discussion.
2. Reflect on how this statement may influence your professional nursing practice.

Students must review and adhere to the marking guide, presentation guidelines and submission instructions outlined in the NUR231 Unit Guide.