A Moral Program for Myself as a Person and as a Professional - Essay Example

A Moral Program for Myself as a Person and Professional A Moral Program for Myself as a Person and Professional Education is the key pillar of the modern world. Through education, we achieve a personal sensation of achievement and sole satisfaction. However, what lessons do we draw from the classes and lessons that we attend? In addition, are there ways in which we can apply the knowledge and the information we learn from the class and use it to shape our personal and professional lives? Throughout the eight weeks that I have enrolled in philosophy 415, I have pondered how I will use the information I learn and the knowledge I gain to better myself. In this regard, I need to better myself in both my personal and professional capacities. Nevertheless, in order to attain this betterment, I need to come up with a moral program for my personal and professional lives. Whether it is applying the ethical principles of Aristotle, Kant and Mill, or combating moral illiteracy within my department, I plan to use my newfound information to its greatest potential. Therefore, this article first elucidates on the moral program that I would implement in my professional life as a nurse. Consequently, the second part is on a program fitted for my personal life as a single mother to a four-year-old child. Out of all the philosophers that we studied during the course, Aristotles virtue ethics is the most suitable theory for my profession. According to Solomon (1992), Aristotle believed that “virtuous acts required conscious choice and moral purpose or motivation” (p. 321). In this regard, this is the most crucial aspect that I must exemplify in my professional life as a nurse. Furthermore, the six dimensions of virtue ethics are community, excellence, role identity, holism, integrity and judgment are crucial for an exemplary career as a nurse. According to Solomon (1992), Aristotles virtue ethics has its foundation “upon the character of a moral agent as a driving force for ethical behavior” (p. 326). As registered nurses, we have a code of ethics, which are similar to Aristotles virtue ethics. From a general point of view, the nursing code of ethics calls for a nurse to practice with sympathy and reverence for the natural dignity, value and distinctiveness of every human being (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2011, p. 3). In this regard, I need to engage Aristotle’s virtue ethics as a nurse in order to practice compassion and respect my patients. In addition, ANA (2011) notes that the second provision in this code of ethics provides that “the nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient, and not to the company or hospital, whether an individual, family, group or community” (p. 5). In this case, the immediate responsibility of the nurse is towards the patient and not their employer. On the other hand, ANA (2011) provides that “the nurse promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety and rights of the patient” (p. 6). Finally, the code of ethics for nurses according to ANA (2011) provides that “the nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to preserve the integrity and safety, to maintain competence, and to continue personal and professional growth” (p. 9). Based on the provisions in the nurses’ code of ethics, it is my opinion that the nursing code of ethics relies on the nurses character as a moral agent who cares for her patients, patients families, and community with dignity and worth. Effectively, this is in direct relation to Aristotles virtue ethics. Consequently, the nurse’s moral character should guide the nurse to do the right thing since there are numerous opportunities in the nursing profession for nurses to be lazy and do act irresponsibly. On the other hand, Immanuel Kants theory has its basis on the definition of a man’s highest good as good will. According to Kant, the intention of an action is more important than the consequence of an action. This is the point that makes me agree with Kants principles and want to shape my professional life following his principles. In this regard, it is my opinion that an individuals behavior, regardless of the fact that others will find out, is an indication of the individuals character. Therefore, an individuals intention in an action is the defining principle behind a person’s true character. While Kant’s philosophy is good for my personal life, I encounter challenges when applying it to the nursing profession. In this case, a satisfactory outcome is the primary goal of all decision making in the medical profession. Regardless of intention, if the outcome of an action is not good, a patient’s life or insurance reimbursement for the hospital is at stake. Case in point, it is not the intention of any nurse to make a medical error. However, this does not matter if the patient suffers any injury. Thus, the crucial factor is that the patient suffered injuries, and the nurse made an error. However, nobody comes to the nurses’ defense indicating that they never intended to cause harm. Nevertheless, although I find some discrepancies with Kant’s philosophy in some parts of the medical field, it is my opinion that you have to have goodwill to be a successful nurse. I find Kant’s three formulations useful and applicable within the nursing profession. According to Zandt (2008), Kant’s first formulation provides that we should “act only on maxims which you can will to be universal laws of nature” (p. 57). In this regard, I can apply this principle as a registered nurse by ensuring that my moral decision during a dilemma at work became law, which people can emulate. In addition, this formulation by Kant will enable me work in becoming a model nurse to my peers in the profession. In effect, this will help me critically think out my decision making process more in depth and make sure that the path I chose is the most comfortable with everyone choosing as law. Furthermore, the decision I will make will show leadership that my colleagues can emulate. On the other hand, Zandt (2008) noted that Kant’s second formulation asks people to “always treat the humanity in a person as an end, and never as a means merely” (p. 57). In this case, this formulation is crucial in my nursing profession as an emergency department registered nurse. In this regard, I should always treat the patient with dignity and respect as a person. Therefore, in my quest and desire to be the model nurse, I need to remember to take care of my patients and remember why I became a nurse--to help people--instead of just looking at my work as a means to a paycheck. In addition, I could also use the second formulation to remind me to treat my fellow colleagues as people, and not means to complete my work. In the fast paced emergency department environment some of my co-workers and I tend to treat our patients, care technicians, and transporters as a means to task completion. Thus, there is a need to stop viewing them as a means to complete a task that needs completion. Instead, I will ensure that I am always respectful, and treat them with dignity. Zandt (2008) noted that, Kant’s third formulation asks individuals to “act as if you were a member of an ideal kingdom of ends in which you were both subject and sovereign at the same time” (p.57). In this case, the implication is that one should act as someone who must live under the same moral laws that they imposed on others. I find this formulation to be the one formulation I use most often as a registered nurse. Often when I am overwhelmed or tired, I use this formulation to remind me to treat my patient and patient’s families, as I would want my own to be treated. John Stuart Mill’s ethical theory focused on utilitarian ethics. From a general point of view, this theory bases its foundation on the premise that an action should help a large number of people draw maximum benefits from the action. This is an ethical reasoning that I find applicable when I am the nurse in charge of the emergency department. As the nurse in charge of this sensitive department, I need to make sure that the decisions I make are beneficial not only to the department, but largely to the hospital. In this regard, I find that when making decisions within the emergency department I am often concentrating on what the department will benefit from most. Whether it is going on red or yellow alert within the city to allow the emergency department to get its internal situation under control without new ambulances arriving, or it is calling another nurse to help relieve the pressure off my nurses on duty. Thus, I am constantly basing my decisions on what is best for the department as a whole when making these judgments. While moral behavior is the expectation in my place of work, moral illiteracy is a weighty issue. In this case, I work in an inner city emergency department, and the staff members’ educational background ranges from high school diplomas to professional medical qualification. In effect, I find that moral issues tend to surface more with the less educated staff due to a carefree attitude or understanding the importance role of moral behavior. This is usually a problem associated with the lack of training on the need for ethics. For example, patients tell us extremely private and sensitive information as medical professionals. In this regard, patients should be comfortable telling medical professionals of their complete medical history in order for them to receive adequate treatment based in the understanding of their condition. Thus, it is an expectation that the patient can tell this information without worrying about it becoming public or used for any other purpose than to increase the accuracy of their treatment. There is an expectation of moral behavior and the understanding that staff members at the hospital are not to share patients’ medical information with anybody for any reason. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, is a law that provides uniformity while protecting the confidentiality of patient information. Nevertheless, despite there being a law that every member of staff should abide by, I have heard situations whereby staff gossip about patient’s conditions. In effect, I have on numerous occasions reminded staff members that such behavior was unacceptable behavior and against hospital policy. Thus, I want to have behavior akin to a model nurse and ensured everything was followed in the right way. In addition, such behavior is a HIPPA violation that could ensure that they lost their jobs or faced the prospects of hefty fines. Nevertheless, the response I often get from these violators is that they did not know that such behavior was a violation. Most of the staff members who act in violation of these laws are housekeepers, registration clerks, and technicians. In this regard, it is my opinion that moral illiteracy was the main reason behind such behavior since they did not know the consequences of their behavior. Furthermore, their lack of education and awareness on the topic, hospital policy, and laws made them have a carefree attitude when discussing a patient’s personal information. All factors considered, the hospital should continuously engage in moral education on patient confidentiality. Furthermore, the hospital should follow through on their ramifications of punishment as suggested in the hospital handbook for staff that violates HIPPA. Nevertheless, despite moral illiteracy being an issue of concern within my department, I consider moral muteness not an issue of concern. In this regard, our management is extremely open and communicative about any ethical issues that arise within the department. Therefore, there is an open door policy, and I never feel that there are prohibitions from speaking up for fear of retaliation. In effect, I have moral standards that I have set for myself and believe. In addition, I often find that I am educating others on moral literacy as a senior nurse. Therefore, I think that education is key to combating moral issues within my department. Furthermore, I will continue speaking up and alert staff of their moral obligations and issues when I encounter them. In relation to the personal goals, I want to have the best moral character for personal fulfillment and become an admirable example to my child. In effect, this goal is achievable if I utilized the theories taught in class. However, it is crucial to point out that I find Aristotle’s value ethics more theoretical in comparison to Kant’s and Mill’s theory, which appear more action-based. In this regard, Aristotle seems to pose the question “What character should I have?” On the other hand, Kant and Mill seem to ask, “What should I do in this situation?” In effect, Aristotle’s theory has a basis on the character of an individual. Therefore, I can learn a lot and model my morals based on Aristotle’s theory. In this case, I will require both the practical and theoretical wisdom in order to bring up my child in the best respectable ways possible. Thus, I will ensure that I shaped my character in a virtuous way that will exemplify how I want my son to grow. On the other hand, Kant’s formulations are a fundamental guide to the world that I want my child to grow. In this case, the ideal world is one that is free of immorality, free of any vices, and only consists righteous and virtuous people. However, in understanding that such a world is impossible, I have to live by Kant’s three formulations. In this regard, I will ensure that my behavior and life was similar to the ideal world I envisaged for my child. In addition, I would ensure that my actions were similar to the ideal world of which I was a member and as Kant emphasized (Zandt, 2008, p. 52). Finally, I will apply Mill’s theory by ensuring that every activity I engaged in was beneficial to a large number of people, and they derived maximum benefits from the activity. In this regard, I will ensure that I engaged in activities that benefitted our community. In effect, my child will learn this moral and selfless behavior from me and grow up to be an individual with good morals and behavior in the society. In conclusion, the moral program will help me in achieving my professional goals. In this regard, I will ensure that I implemented Aristotle’s value ethics, Kant’s three formulations, and Mill’s theory in making day-to-day judgments and decisions in my career. In effect, my career will shape up to be that of a leader and a model registered nurse with my hospital, patients, and fellow colleagues will benefit from my actions. Consequently, I want to be a model that exemplifies exemplary behavior and morals to my child. However, I need to use the theories by Aristotle, Kant, and Mill to make sure that I achieved the goal of the ideal world and parent to my child. Consequently, my child will copy this exemplary behavior and grow into a morally upright individual. Work Cited American Nurses Association [ANA]. 2011. Code of Ethics for Burses With Interpretive Statements. Nursing World. Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/EthicsStandards/Tools-You- Need/Code-of-Ethics.pdf Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Pub.L. 104-191, 110 Stat. 1996. Solomon, R. C. (1992). Corporate Roles, Personal Virtues: An Aristotelean Approach to Business Ethics. Business Ethics Quarterly, 2(3). 317-339. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/3857536 Zandt, J. D. (2008). Ethical issues in business: a philosophical approach. Donaldson, T., & Werhane, P. H. (Eds.). Upper Saddle, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Read More