Enacting an Ethic of Care Through Narrative Practice, Essay Example

Introduction

Ethics in nursing practice serves as a hallmark of the field and represents a means of understanding the dynamics of care and the implications of Watson’s Theory of Caring as they apply to the practice setting (Lachman, 2012). Nurses prepared at the DNP level must be able to establish positive relationships with their patients and demonstrate their level of responsibility to their patients that will have a positive and lasting impact on their wellbeing (Lachman, 2012). This is likely to encourage a “habit of care” to facilitate the relationship and an ethical approach to treatment (Lachman, 2012).

Body

Nurses must be able to work effectively with all patients under many situations and aim to support patient vulnerability and provide needs-based care in a positive manner (Lachman, 2012). At this stage, nurses must also be able to work towards a set of solutions that will promote a team-based strategy of communication and ethical responsibility to treat patients accordingly (Lawrence & Maitlis, 2012). These factors will have a lasting impact on patients and provide them with the tools and resources that are essential to their growth and maturity within the profession itself. Nurses must exercise a sound ethic of care as a means of recognizing the potential of their treatments to have a positive impact on patients and their wellbeing.

Conclusion

Nurses must prepare to provide treatment for their patients that is entirely consistent with ethical principles and express their compassion and care for patients on a continuous basis. This reflects the importance of understanding the dynamics of care and the variables that may impact how a nurse interacts with a patient, including the creation of a relationship to support ethical needs and expectations that will positively impact patient health and wellbeing and encourage recovery at the highest possible level.

References

Lachman, V. D. (2012). Applying the ethics of care to your nursing practice.MedSurg Nursing, 21(2), 112-4.

Lawrence, T. B., & Maitlis, S. (2012). Care and possibility: Enacting an ethic of care through narrative practice. Academy of Management Review, 37(4), 641-663.