Ethics in Evidence-Based Practice
Formative Assessment
Please respond to the following prompts in a clear and concise manner. Use examples from your experience or relevant literature when applicable. Your responses should demonstrate critical thinking and application of ethical principles in the context of evidence-based practice.
- Enhancement of Ethical Considerations
- In your own words, explain how evidence-based practice can enhance ethical considerations in patient care. Provide at least two specific ways in which EBP contributes to ethical nursing practice.
- Challenges Posed by Evidence-Based Practice
- Discuss how evidence-based practice can also pose challenges to ethical considerations in patient care. Describe at least one potential ethical dilemma that may arise when implementing EBP in clinical settings.
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Ethics in Evidence-Based Practice
Ethical Enhancement Through Evidence-Based Practice
Evidence-based practice (EBP) strengthens ethical nursing care through informed decision-making and patient-centered outcomes. It uses the best available evidence. This allows nurses to provide care based on proven interventions, not assumptions or tradition.
First, EBP promotes autonomy and informed consent. When patients receive care based on clear evidence, they make better choices. Nurses can explain why an intervention works. This empowers patients to participate in decisions about their care.
Second, EBP ensures justice and fairness. It supports using standardized, validated practices across patient populations. This minimizes bias and unequal treatment. For instance, using evidence-based pain scales helps avoid under-treatment in vulnerable groups.
These applications of EBP uphold key ethical principles. They support beneficence by improving patient outcomes. They also reinforce accountability in nursing practice.
Ethical Challenges in Evidence-Based Practice
Despite its benefits, EBP may pose ethical dilemmas in clinical settings. One major issue is the conflict between evidence and patient preferences.
A good example is when evidence suggests aggressive treatment, but a patient wants comfort care. Nurses may struggle to respect autonomy while following guidelines. Balancing these values can be difficult and emotionally taxing.
Another challenge involves resource limitations. EBP may recommend expensive or unavailable interventions. In such cases, nurses face ethical tension between ideal care and reality. This can affect justice and fairness in care delivery.
Additionally, some evidence lacks diversity. Research may not include all populations. This can lead to unequal outcomes if applied universally. Nurses must critically evaluate the relevance of evidence for individual patients.
