Ethics Development - Personal Statement Example

For an individual to attain a good character which will enable them to live harmoniously with other members of the society, they need exhibit a moral and ethical character that is ideally embodied in being honest, trustworthy, responsible, fair and showing care for others as well as citizenry (Josephson Institute, 2009). Owing to my Christian upbringing in the Episcopal Church, my ethical system has been predominantly influenced by my faith in God and my belief that I should strive to do only what is sanctioned by Him.

The ethical system can be defined as the underlying ethical principles, which a person uses to make decisions, I subscribe like most Christians to deontological ethics also known as duty based ethics or non-consequential ethics. I believe that an action is either right or wrong, and my perception of the differentiation is based on biblical teaching, thus regardless of possibly good consequences resulting from a wrong action, the action remains untenable in my opinion. From another theological perspective I would say that I fall into the Absolutist category in terms of ethics and moral responsibility; under this category, the underlying principal is that there is an absolute and objective standard of what is right and wrong, and this is based on biblical teachings.

Whenever I am faced with a decision or action, I always pause to ask myself if a Christian should act in such a manner, I do not look first at the benefit that I may gain or the pain I may suffer as a result, but simply aspire to know if it is right and that is all the motivation I need to act or desist. I work as a hospice nurse in addition to being a member of the National Palliative Care and Oncology Nursing Association, my training and experience have on many occasions brought me face to face with the extreme human suffering more with certain death.

Working as a nurse, I have found my ethics and beliefs instrumental in making me an efficient nurse since I believe that protection and preservation of human life come before all other things. I admired the compassion of Florence Nightgale who put aside her life purists to ensure that the sick and dying were cared for in a compassionate and caring manner. To a large extent my becoming a nurse was influenced by my admiration of her since I felt that it was both my Christian and moral duty to care for those who are in pain and alleviate their suffering.

It may not be as financially rewarding as some other careers I may have opted for, but the fact that it is the right thing to do supersedes the opportunity cost. Others who influenced me included mother Teresa who was in many ways just Nightgale in her selflessness and willingness to risk being infected with disease by living and working with the poor and lepers in Calcutta. My Christian ethics for instance does not allow me to lie or be dishonest even though I may stand to gain and possibly get away with immoral actions, this has sometimes brought me in conflict with some of my friends who think am too timid and rigid.

Sometimes in the past I went out with my friends for a party and although I was not drinking like everyone else seemed to be doing, I had a great time. On the way home, one of my friends was driving, I only realized after we were on the highway that he had clearly gone over his alcohol limit when I