Relational and Embodied Knowing, Essay Example

In the specialty area of obstetrics and gynecology, an effective leader must be in place to support the work of DNP-prepared nurses. At this level, nurses must demonstrate their ability to lead in a given situation and to make recommendations that will solve problems effectively and consistently (Fairman, Rowe, Hassmiller, & Shalala, 2011). In this context, nursing practice must provide a framework for achieving successful results and in solving problems at a high level through ethical decision-making and organizational support (Fairman et.al, 2011). It is important for nurses at this level to administer high quality care and treatment for all patients and to recognize when there is a risk or issue that is related to nursing care that requires ethically responsible decision-making at this level.

Nurses must be able to identify ethical issues, such as medication errors or chart derivations, and address these instances directly to avoid complications or other issues that impact patient health. For example, an ethical issue involving a patient who was administered the wrong dosage of medication faced a serious postpartum risk, and the nurse in charge of the medication administration denied her involvement, thereby leading to an unpaid suspension and eventual dismissal. This caused serious ethical concern for the nursing staff and led to increased communication regarding the issue and its impact on the patients who are seen. This process requires a level of discipline and support that is both encouraging and complementary to the work that is being performed and that also impacts how different issues will be resolved among employees (Wright & Brajtman, 2011). When these conflicts arise, they must be addressed with an open mind and a discussion of the issue at hand so that it may be resolved in a productive manner to support all employees and patients who are affected (Wright & Brajtman, 2011). In essence, nurse communication at the DNP level must be very high and must be able to demonstrate a strong level of support and enthusiasm for the profession that will have a positive and lasting impact on the patients who are served. This process will ensure that all possible steps have been taken to facilitate an effective set of outcomes for patients who receive DNP-centered care.

References

Fairman, J. A., Rowe, J. W., Hassmiller, S., & Shalala, D. E. (2011). Broadening the scope of nursing practice. New England Journal of Medicine, 364(3), 193-196.

Wright, D., & Brajtman, S. (2011). Relational and embodied knowing: Nursing ethics within the interprofessional team. Nursing Ethics, 18(1), 20-30.