The DNP Project: Ethical Considerations

Discussion

Purpose

The purpose of this discussion is to identify the IRB prescreening process and how this process works to gain IRB prescreening determination for the DNP practice change project.(DNP Project Ethical Considerations Essay for Nursing Students)

Instructions

Review this week’s readings and provide your response in 150 words or less:

1.  State your practice question in PICOT format.(DNP Project Ethical Considerations Essay for Nursing Students)

2.  How will you assure an ethical and protective process for all involved in this project, including patients and other stakeholders?

3.  Provide an update on your project status. Is IRB approval required from your practicum site? If so, have you started this process? If not, do you have a letter from the practicum site stating IRB is not required?(DNP Project Ethical Considerations Essay for Nursing Students)

Use Grammarly and current APA format for the posts. Do not repeat the prompts in the post. Provide respectful and thought-provoking feedback to your student colleagues. Ask for clarification and elaboration if needed.(DNP Project Ethical Considerations Essay for Nursing Students)

Please click on the following link to review the DNP Discussion Guidelines on the Student Resource Center program page: 

·     Link (webpage): DNP Discussion GuidelinesLinks to an external site.

Course Outcomes

This discussion enables the student to meet the following course outcomes:

1.  Exhibit adherence to ethical principles in the delivery of healthcare, program planning, and financial management. (POs 1, 4)

2.  Demonstrate effective project management strategies. (POs 2, 3, 6, 7, 8)

DNP Project Ethical Considerations Essay for Nursing Students

Practice Question

The following practice question will serve as the basis of the DNP project: For adults with a history of Schizophrenia (P) in the inpatient setting, does the implementation of technology with motivational interviewing (I), compared with current practice (C), impact medication nonadherence (O) in 8-10 weeks (T)?(DNP Project Ethical Considerations Essay for Nursing Students)

Assuring an Ethical and Protective Process

Ethical dilemmas can occur during project development, especially involving schizophrenia patients, who are perceived as a vulnerable patient population. Some strategies to ensure an ethical and protective process for all involved parties would be discussing intellectual property frankly with the main stakeholders, particularly the hospital and other partners like investors and contributing researchers and providers. It would also help sort any conflicts of interest to discuss who receives credit for the authorship (American Psychological Association, 2022). It would be the start of developing a working relationship with all parties involved besides the patients. It is also advisable to follow informed-consent rules, particularly for schizophrenia patients who cannot make informed decisions in some circumstances. It is critical to ensure the patients voluntarily participate in the project with adequate or full knowledge of its risks and benefits (Manti & Licari, 2018). APA’s Ethics Code also requires practitioners involved in project development to inform participants regarding research purpose, duration, and procedure, right to withdraw or decline participation, risks, discomfort, or adverse effects that might impact their decision to participate, research benefits, confidentiality limits, participation incentives, and contact. (DNP Project Ethical Considerations Essay for Nursing Students)
Additionally, it is fundamental to respect confidentiality and privacy and discuss confidentiality rules and policies with participants and other stakeholders involved in the project to ensure people understand the consequences of privacy and confidentiality breaches. According to Barrow et al. (2022), it would also be worthwhile to integrate ethical principles, including respect for persons, autonomy, beneficence and non-maleficence, and justice and fairness in the project development process to ensure an ethical and protective process for all stakeholders. (DNP Project Ethical Considerations Essay for Nursing Students)

Project Status

Our DNP project is in the data collection and implementation stage. The project team is working with schizophrenia patients using the counseling approach involving motivational interviewing to collect data on patients that will help determine the effectiveness of motivational interviewing in enhancing medication adherence. Data collection is conducted daily for the period of implementing MI, and so far, we are in the process of collecting data from patients regarding medication adherence behavior. The project requires an IRB project, and I am in the process of obtaining it from the practicum site. I have notified the site about the project, and they buy into the idea, but I have not obtained the IRB approval. (DNP Project Ethical Considerations Essay for Nursing Students)

References

American Psychological Association. (2022). Five principles for research ethics. https://www.apa.org/monitor/jan03/principles
Barrow, J. M., Brannan, G. D., & Khandhar, P. B. (2022). Research ethics. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.
Manti, S., & Licari, A. (2018). How to obtain informed consent for research. Breathe (Sheffield, England), 14(2), 145–152. https://doi.org/10.1183/20734735.001918(DNP Project Ethical Considerations Essay for Nursing Students)

FAQs

What are ethical issues relevant to the DNP?

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program presents several ethical concerns. These include issues related to patient autonomy and informed consent, as DNPs often make complex healthcare decisions that impact patients’ well-being. Additionally, there may be ethical dilemmas surrounding resource allocation and prioritization of care, especially when dealing with limited healthcare resources. Confidentiality and privacy of patient information also raise ethical considerations, particularly in the context of electronic health records and data security. Lastly, the potential for conflicts of interest and maintaining professional boundaries when collaborating with pharmaceutical or medical device companies can pose ethical challenges for DNP practitioners.(DNP Project Ethical Considerations Essay for Nursing Students)

What are the ethical principles in DNP practice?

In Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) practice, ethical principles play a crucial role in guiding patient care and professional conduct. These principles include beneficence, which emphasizes promoting the well-being of patients and striving for their best interests; autonomy, respecting patients’ rights to make informed decisions about their healthcare; nonmaleficence, avoiding harm and ensuring patient safety; and justice, ensuring fair and equitable distribution of healthcare resources. DNP practitioners also adhere to principles of veracity, honesty, and integrity in their interactions with patients, colleagues, and the healthcare system, while upholding the highest standards of professional competence and accountability.(DNP Project Ethical Considerations Essay for Nursing Students)

What are the 5 ethical considerations in nursing research?

The five key ethical considerations in nursing research encompass:

Respect for Autonomy: Researchers must prioritize the voluntary and informed consent of participants, ensuring their ability to make independent decisions about their participation.

Beneficence: Researchers should strive to maximize potential benefits while minimizing potential harm to participants, emphasizing their well-being and safety.(DNP Project Ethical Considerations Essay for Nursing Students)

Non-Maleficence: Researchers must avoid causing harm or distress to participants, taking steps to prevent adverse effects and addressing any potential risks.

Justice: Fair distribution of the benefits and burdens of research must be upheld, avoiding exploitation of vulnerable populations and promoting inclusivity and equity.(DNP Project Ethical Considerations Essay for Nursing Students)

Integrity: Honesty, transparency, and scientific rigor are crucial, ensuring accurate data collection, analysis, and reporting, and preventing any conflicts of interest or unethical conduct(DNP Project Ethical Considerations Essay for Nursing Students)

What ethical considerations should a student consider while carrying out research?

While conducting research, students should prioritize ethical considerations to ensure the integrity and well-being of their subjects and the broader community. They should obtain informed consent from participants, ensuring they understand the study’s purpose and potential risks. Protecting participant confidentiality and privacy is vital, as is minimizing any potential harm that may arise from the research. Properly citing sources, avoiding plagiarism, and adhering to institutional guidelines are also essential for maintaining academic integrity and ethical standards.(DNP Project Ethical Considerations Essay for Nursing Students)