Ethical Political Activity by Discussionboardhomeworkhelp.com

Ethical Political Activity by Discussionboardhomeworkhelp.com

The political actions of organizational members is an emerging perspective among researchers studying the functioning and dynamics of the firm. Specifically, their interest considers the motives, intentions, and behaviours of the individuals acting politically through influence tactics seeking to attain their goals or maintain, safeguard, or promote their respective advantages, privileges, and benefits (Gotsis & Kortezi, 2010). Organizational literature focused on the politics of the organization examines what it considers the “dark side of organizational action,” which relates to the distinct themes of unethical behaviour and injustice. Sometimes in the nursing profession, nurses have been accused of neglect concerning their failure to perceive health policy issues as part of the profession’s concerns, thus avoiding participating in healthcare program debates. Political participation in the medical field takes on an ethical approach that considers the individual’s behaviours and reactions to the needs of the disadvantaged groups within the population. Hence, organizational literature considers the outcomes of individual actions and the norms to which nurses adhere as they consider acting politically to ensure they behave within a moral framework. Ethics form an essential part of the nursing profession since the practitioners are advocates for their clients and require a balance in the delivery of patient care. 

Good governance is highly dependent upon ethics, a critical component that can influence public trust in government. Within the organization, leadership shapes standards of conduct, with the role of the leader becoming the centre of attention. According to Downe, Cowell, and Morgan (2016), the ethical behaviour of leaders is of global significance in an era when leaders have been implicated in notorious integrity violations and ethical scandals. Hence, the involvement of organizational members, such as nurses, in politics, requires their ethical behaviour as leaders in the profession due to its beneficial outcomes. Some of the benefits of moral leadership include the willingness of the employees to voice matters that will improve the firm (Downe, Cowell, & Morgan, 2016). Hence, among nurses, this advocacy relates to the pursuit of policies that enhance the healthcare environment to promote patient health and safety. Furthermore, ethical leadership guarantees greater job satisfaction of the workers and their sense of well-being. It also fosters the employee and public trust in the organization leaders because of their role in improving the conditions of the firm. The leadership style is crucial in creating a culture that maintains and rewards good conduct. Therefore, moral governance of the organization represents a voice of concern for the issues affecting the organizational members and the public. 

Furthermore, ethical principles are important to nurses for various reasons because they encounter complex issues in their practice during delivery of care. Milliken (2018) provides valuable insight that recognizes the need for nurses to be aware of and address the ethical concerns arising in the healthcare environment. The first step in moral action involves the recognition of the ethical implications of nursing actions. Hence, the nurses must identify the potential moral consequences of their conduct for them to resolve effectively problems that arise and address the needs of the patients. Whereas nursing ethics education focuses on the challenging scenarios and dilemmas, moral awareness entails recognizing that every action in nursing practice, even routine actions, has the likelihood to affect the patient. Milliken (2018) notes that the administration of medications or recording vital signs have the potential for ethical implications, which may expose the patients to the risk for harm. Accordingly, the nursing ethnical principles represent a guide on fulfilling the nurse goals of protecting, promoting, and restoring health and wellbeing, preventing injury or illness, and alleviating suffering in individual, family, community, population, or group care (Milliken, 2018). Ethical action thus entails the promotion of nursing goals in conjunction with the wishes of the patient. Hence, those actions conflicting with the moral standards or ignoring the patient’s preferences expose the nurse to unethical conduct. Therefore, the practitioner should be guided by the principles to be aware of risks of practice and the likelihood for any action to contradict the moral values of the profession. 

Hence, to define the personal values of nurses, the American Nurse Associated (ANA) developed the Code of Ethics to ensure the nursing practitioners practice competently with integrity. Haddad and Geiger (2018) trace the onset of nursing ethics to the late nineteenth century when ethics constituted the virtues of physician obedience, loyalty, and high moral character. However, with the evolution of nursing as part of the healthcare team and advocates for patients, the field developed a formal Code of Ethics to guide practice. Thus, ANA’s standards defining the personal values of nurses outline the aspects of compassion and respect for inherent dignity, unique attributes, and worth of every individual (Haddad & Geiger, 2018). The principle requires nurses to treat all individuals with respect in care and communication. They must work with patient families and colleagues to ensure participation in the provision of care. Besides, the nurses have the primary commitment to the patient, hence they must address any conflicts of interest that may affect care. The Code of Ethics also sets the requirement for nurses to promote, advocate for, and protect the patient’s rights, health, and safety. They also have the authority, responsibility, and accountability for nursing practice and their decisions and actions should be consistent with providing optimal care. Furthermore, the nurses have the duty to promote health and safety, preserve integrity and the wholeness of character, remain competent, and pursue personal and professional development. They also individually or collectively establish, maintain, and improve the ethical work environment and employment conditions to guarantee conduciveness to safety and quality health care. Additionally, the nurse advances the profession through scholarly and research inquiry, engagement in nursing and health policy development, and developing professional standards. Furthermore, they collaborate with other health practitioners and the public to safeguard human rights, reduce health inequalities, and enhance medical diplomacy. Lastly, nursing collectively articulates the professional values, maintain integrity, and incorporate social justice standards into nursing and health programs.

References

Downe, J., Cowell, R., & Morgan, K. (2016). What determines ethical behavior in public organizations: Is it rules or leadership? Public Administration Review, 76(6), 898-909. DOI: 10.1111/puar.12562

Gotsis, G. N., & Kortezi, Z. (2010). Ethical considerations in organizational politics: Expanding the perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 93(4), 497-517. DOI 10.1007/s10551-009-0241-7

Haddad, L. M., & Geiger, R. A. (2019). Nursing ethical considerations. In StatPearls [Internet]. Retrieved on 18 December 2019 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526054/

Milliken, A. (2018). Ethical awareness: What it is and why it matters. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 23(1). DOI: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol23No01Man01