Comprehensive Discussion Essay on Autonomy for Nursing Students

Autonomy is a central benefit in medical ethics and western medicine, but precisely what sort of role medication ought to offer to patients’ autonomy appears to be relatively obscure. It’s plausible that autonomous individuals are usually in the most effective place to decide what could be bad and good for them, so, it’s arguable that there’s a valid reason to look at patients’ autonomy to get crucial benefits in medication. Though the idea of autonomy continues to be utilized in numerous unique senses in various connections, in biomedical values there’s a typical core comprehension of the significance of the idea. Based on this concept, autonomy means self-government (Varelius, 2006).(Comprehensive Discussion Essay on Autonomy for Nursing Students)

Autonomy Ethical and Legal considerations

Autonomy is akin to the notions of self-determination, independence, freedom, liberty of action, and choice. As a result, it’s in concert together with the real values which underlie our national society, for, in the United States, we usually recognize the concept that everybody is, or even needs to be, in a position to select as well as serve as they want so long as no damage is produced by the thoughts and actions. It’s obvious that autonomy gives a feeling of well-being, though the older individual might reduce his or maybe her expectations of freedom of choice to keep a degree of life satisfaction. There’s the drive by most of us to sustain the quality of an individual’s life throughout all the days of the life. To le this value, attempts are designed to ensure an individual’s potential making choices, both actions, and decisions, during the entire life span. Whenever an individual will lose the capability to decide for him or maybe herself on big problems or perhaps small, then one’s quality of life is diminished. The person has lost a thing of themselves, and society has additionally lost something fundamental (Dickel, 1990).(Comprehensive Discussion Essay on Autonomy for Nursing Students)

Autonomy is a common idea within legal, moral, and political philosophy. Within healthcare and ethics law it’s become deceptively familiar. While it’s, in several aspects, attained a supreme state, there’s a lot of variation in the way the idea is understood. Normative concerns regarding an endlessly paternalistic healthcare profession, supported by an endlessly deferential judiciary, gradually resulted in an extreme alteration of practice. English healthcare law requires non-prejudicial deference to patients’ reasons for providing or even refusing consent to therapy, developing a useful method of moral value pluralism. Whilst this’s not intrinsically problematic, it makes problems in applying principles like autonomy, which are typically certain to ideas of rationality (Coggon & Miola, 2011).(Comprehensive Discussion Essay on Autonomy for Nursing Students)

Respect as well as shared decision making remain essential in the context of choices for minors. Consequently, doctors should evaluate modest patients to decide in case they are able to comprehend the risks as well as benefits of the proposed treatment as well as tailor disclosure accordingly. The level of maturity the person has, the better prepared to realize what a choice is going to mean, and the more obvious the kid can communicate personal preferences, the better the ethical obligation to find small patients’ assent to treatment. Except when instant treatment is crucial to safeguard life or even avoid severe, irreversible damage, parents/guardians and physicians must respect a child’s refusal to assent, and once situations permit must certainly check out the child’s reason behind dissent (Smith, 2019).(Comprehensive Discussion Essay on Autonomy for Nursing Students)

Children and especially adolescents have the capability to engage in medical decision-making to some degree. For probably the most part the parent-doctor-child/adolescent triangle sides are basically in agreement, but this might not be correct in several instances, leading to doctors experiencing issues trying to figure out their professional tasks. Based on Islamic jurisprudent after reaching the era of Taklif, nobody may be viewed as incompetent according to psychological immaturity unless his or maybe her insanity or maybe psychological immaturity is proven. Additionally, the Islamic Sharia, decrees that parents must lose their power to create health decisions for their kids, in case their bad faith or maybe imprudence is found, in that case, a fit, as well as an institution or proper person, is going to be appointed making choices in this respect according to the child’s very best interests (Parsapoor et al., 2014).(Comprehensive Discussion Essay on Autonomy for Nursing Students)

References

Coggon, J., & Miola, J. (2011). AUTONOMY, LIBERTY, AND MEDICAL DECISION-MAKING. The Cambridge Law Journal, 70(03), 523–547. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0008197311000845(Comprehensive Discussion Essay on Autonomy for Nursing Students)

Dickel, C. T. (1990). Preserving Elder Autonomy: Moral and Ethical Considerations. ERIC. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED321216

Parsapoor, A., Parsapoor, M.-B., Rezaei, N., & Asghari, F. (2014). Autonomy of children and adolescents in consent to treatment: ethical, jurisprudential and legal considerations. Iranian Journal of Pediatrics, 24(3), 241–248. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25562015/(Comprehensive Discussion Essay on Autonomy for Nursing Students)

Smith, T. M. (2019, December 26). Pediatric decision-making: Help parents protect, empower kids. American Medical Association. https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/ethics/pediatric-decision-making-help-parents-protect-empower-kids(Comprehensive Discussion Essay on Autonomy for Nursing Students)

Varelius, J. (2006). The value of autonomy in medical ethics. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, 9(3), 377–388. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11019-006-9000-z  (Comprehensive Discussion Essay on Autonomy for Nursing Students)

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ED321216.pdf 

Comprehensive Discussion Essay on Autonomy for Nursing Students-Response

Hello,

Thank you for the great post. Autonomy is integral to healthcare delivery as the healthcare system seeks more patient-centered care. Patients have more say in healthcare decision-making than two decades ago when the healthcare providers made the most significant decisions about a patient’s health (Olejarczyk & Young, 2019). Currently, healthcare providers serve the patient’s best interests. I agree that autonomy is associated with self-determination, independence, freedom, liberty of action, and choice (Olejarczyk & Young, 2019). People have an elevated understanding of what they want with their life and what is good or bad for them. However, I believe that autonomy has limits because individuals are not allowed to engage in choices that can hurt them, damage them, or kill them. For instance, individuals cannot engage in intentional suicide. Only euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide is allowed in specific circumstances, but it also requires consultations. Autonomy and a provider’s guidance are associated with better healthcare results.(Comprehensive Discussion Essay on Autonomy for Nursing Students)

Autonomy is an ethical principle alongside beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice that healthcare providers should observe when caring for patients; otherwise, there are legal repercussions (Olejarczyk & Young, 2019). For instance, not upholding autonomy is associated with a higher chance of legal suits against a healthcare provider. Practitioners should gather all the necessary information to make informed decisions about patient health. Also, physicians should provide all the needed information to help patients make comprehensive decisions about their health and ensure that patients are educated. I agree that autonomy promotes intrinsic and unconditional worth because everyone has the power to make rational decisions and moral choices (Varkey, 2021). However, this concept applies differently to minors who are considered to lack the capacity to make their own choices. The provider should engage parents or any supporting adult and the child or adolescent in the decision-making progress because, although children and adolescents are considered minors, they have a better feeling and understanding of their bodies, and their input is appreciated in the care process. (Comprehensive Discussion Essay on Autonomy for Nursing Students)     

References

Olejarczyk, J. P., & Young, M. (2019). Patient Rights and Ethics.(Comprehensive Discussion Essay on Autonomy for Nursing Students)

Varkey, B. (2021). Principles of clinical ethics and their application to practice. Medical Principles and Practice, 30(1), 17-28.

FAQs

What is autonomy in nursing education?

Autonomy in nursing education refers to the degree of independence and self-directed learning that nursing students possess. It involves fostering a learning environment where students take responsibility for their education, make informed decisions about their learning goals, and actively engage in critical thinking and problem-solving. Autonomous nursing education empowers students to develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed for effective clinical practice and lifelong learning in the rapidly evolving field of healthcare.

What are examples of autonomy in nursing?

Autonomy in nursing refers to the ability of nurses to make independent decisions about patient care within their scope of practice and based on their clinical judgment. Examples include assessing patient conditions, developing care plans, choosing appropriate interventions, and adjusting treatment strategies. Nurses also have the autonomy to advocate for patients’ rights, provide education to patients and their families, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure holistic and patient-centered care.

How do you promote autonomy in nursing?

Promoting autonomy in nursing involves empowering patients to actively participate in their healthcare decisions. Nurses can achieve this by providing comprehensive and understandable information about treatment options, risks, and benefits. They should encourage patients to voice their preferences and concerns, involve them in care planning, and respect their choices even if they differ from medical recommendations. By fostering open communication and respecting individual autonomy, nurses facilitate patients’ self-determination and enhance their overall healthcare experience.

What is an example of autonomy?

An example of autonomy is a self-driving car navigating through traffic without human intervention. Equipped with sensors, cameras, and advanced algorithms, the car can make real-time decisions to accelerate, brake, change lanes, and avoid obstacles, all while adhering to traffic rules. This showcases the ability of a machine to operate independently within a predefined scope, making decisions and taking actions based on its environment and programming.