Case Study on Resolving Ethical Conflict in Healthcare
DNP 7520 Creating and Resolving Conflict in Healthcare Setting
Relativity applies to physics, not ethics – Albert Einstein
PURPOSE
The purpose of this assignment is to prepare the DNP-student to critically appraise and address complexes ethical issues in healthcare from leadership perspective. This assignment will help students explore various strategies to improve conflict resolution. In addition, this assignment will help students achieve leadership related role-specific professional competencies.
COURSE OUTCOMES
This assignment provides documentation of student ability to meet the following course outcomes.
Identify and work through various reactions to conflict (EOPSLO’s II, VI)
Describe a possible leadership style appropriate to use when leading conflict resolution.
Explore ethical dilemma outcomes of organizational and leadership behaviors. (EOPSLO’s I, II, III, V, VI, VII, VIII)
Examine selected quality improvement and professional practice models that serve to support patient safety and advanced nursing practice. (EOPSLO’s I, II, III, V, VII)
Examining the Full Range Model of Leadership (EOPSLO’s I, III)
Define conflict and recognize potential conflict situations. (EOPSLO’s II, III, V, VII)
Understanding how communication and group dynamics affect conflict (EOPSLO’s II, III, V, VII)
Evaluate the art of science and self-awareness (EOPSLO’s II, III, V, VII)
Explain how conflict can be productive (EOPSLO’s II, III, V, VII)
Apply conflict resolution techniques (EOPSLO’s II, III, V, VI)
Program Outcomes
I-Integrate Scientific Underpinnings into Practice
II-Develop Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Improvement and Systems Thinking
III-Apply Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice
V-Influence Health Care Policy for Advocacy in Health Care
VI-Employ Interprofessional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes
VII-Synthesize Clinical Prevention and Population Health concepts for Improving the Nation’s Health
VIII-Demonstrate advanced levels of clinical judgment, systems thinking, and accountability in designing, delivering, and evaluating evidence-based care to improve patient outcome
Leadership-Related Role Specific Professional Competencies
Demonstrate effective communication via written material
Demonstrate knowledge of the healthcare environment by integrating bioethical and legal dimensions into clinical and management decision-making
Demonstrate professionalism by discussing, resolving, and learning from ethical dilemma
DUE DATE: Submit to the Moodle by Saturday of the end Week 6 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
POINTS: This assignment is worth a total of 100 points.
REQUIREMENTS
To complete this application, you will need to access to the Miami Regional University virtual library database. following databases: CINAHL Complete Database, MEDLINE Complete Database, LIRN, and so forth. Our Librarian is available to help on campus from Monday to Friday 7:30 am to 9:00 pm & Saturday 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Feel free to use the APA template provided for this assignment in Moodle week #6. Should you have any questions, feel free to reach out to your professor, DNP mentor, or to post your question in the Q/A forum on Moodle. We are here to help.
This assignment is worth 100 points and will be graded on the required components as summarized in the directions and grading criteria/rubric. This assignment will be graded on quality of information, use of citations, use of Standard English grammar, sentence structure, and overall organization based on the required components as summarized in the directions and grading criteria and rubric.
APA format and effective writing is required for the paper. Use your APA manual or Purdue Owl to check and correct your formatting. Use Grammarly, Tutor Source, and the grammar and spelling check on your Word Processor and criteria for effective writing to assure that your paper well written. APA format is required, with both a title page and reference page. Use the required components of the review as Level 1 headings (upper and lower case, centered, boldface).
Create your manuscript using the version of Microsoft Word. You can tell that the document is saved as a MS Word document because it will end in “.docx”.
Follow the directions and grading criteria closely. Any questions about this paper may be posted under the Q & A Forum.
The length of the project report is to be no fewer than four and no greater than six pages, excluding the title page and reference pages.
This paper will be submitted through Turnitin, a Turnitin similarity score of 20% or less is expected.
A minimum of 6 current scholarly references that are 5 years old or less.
The textbook required for this course may be used as a reference for this assignment but does not count towards the required minimum number of scholarly references.
CASE STUDY
Cindy was recently hired in the role APRN/Emergency Department (ED) supervisor seeing patients in the ED the direct supervision of the physician on duty to alleviate the workload at peak time, she also coordinates the activities of the nursing staff when she is on duty. This particular physician and the staff on duty are well-known from Cindy as she used to work as a staff nurse prior graduating from her master in the same facility. Cindy has known the physician on duty for over ten years, working with him through the highs and lows that comes along with the hecticness of emergency department. They have gone to staff holiday gatherings together, baby shower, birthday celebration, and so forth. She is aware he is going through a painful divorce.
During lunch, the physician told Cindy “I will go grab something from the cafeteria and I’ll be back in a few.” Busy seeing patients Cindy felt that it had been a while since the physician went to the cafeteria. Looking at the clock, she realized the physician had left almost two hours ago. When asking the staff if anyone has seen the physician, she realized everyone was quiet, looking down, and appearing uncomfortable. She went to the cafeteria to look for the physician and was told by the cafeteria staff that the physician had not gone for lunch today. Cindy decided to call the physician. Upon answering the phone, the physician told Cindy “I am sorry I had to go get my mom to the airport, she had an emergency, I’ll be back soon.”
Cindy’s heart sank as she knew it was not in her scope of practice to attend patients and lead an ED without a physician present. While attending patients, she was secretly hoping not to hear a code blue overhead. The physician came back to the ED four hours after originally leaving. Cindy noticed that the physician was diaphoretic with sweat dripping from his forehead, with noted tremors in his hands while trying to type on the computer, and dilated pupils. When she asked him about his mother, he appeared confused by the question. He resumed his work as if nothing had happened. A few minutes later, the staff for the incoming shift started arriving and the change of shift report began.
After the shift Cindy replayed the whole sequences of events in her mind and became angry that her colleague abandoned her and the patient while on duty. She knows the patients safety was at risk, yet she is wondering how she should approach the situation given that she has been working for many years with the physician but she is new in this particular role, she is not sure on what to think of his cognitive status, she is quite in shock that this happened especially coming from someone that has been working diligently with her for so many years, she knows the remaining of the staff will be closely observing how she will respond to the incident.
Cindy is under a lot of pressure. Cindy is facing a dilemma that can be framed as competing obligations. She feels the need to protect the patient on one hand and she feels the need to protect her colleague on the other. She knows the hospital policy on patients abandonment is strict, and this colleague will most likely be terminated, reported to the board of medicine, and possibly lose his license as a physician.
Read on the principle of nonmaleficence and fidelity prior answering the following questions.
Answer the following questions:
a) Define the principle of nonmaleficence and fidelity.
b) Define the ethical conflict Cindy is facing and why? Explore the ethical dilemma faced by the organization in this situation. What are the risks involve with not addressing the situation from an organizational standpoint?
c) What are the potential consequences in reporting vs. not reporting the situation for Cindy?
d) How would you as a leader help Cindy navigate through this ethical conflict?
e) How could this ethical conflict be used by a leader as productive for the organization and the staff?
f) When reflecting on the possible different team concerns in tackling the issue, think of strategies that could be used to help improve team synergy and collaboration with the staff after the incident.
DIRECTIONS AND GRADING CRITERIA
Category Points % Description
A) Introduction of an ethical conflict situation by providing a summary of the case study presented, by providing a definition of the principle of nonmaleficence and fidelity and its application to ethical conflict, and briefly provides an overview of the content of the paper. 10 10 When introducing the purpose of the paper, the student demonstrates effective communication via written material by providing a summary of the case study, including a definition of the principle of nonmaleficence and fidelity and its application to ethical conflict, and by briefly providing an overview of the content of the paper.
B) Based on the proposed case scenario, description provided of a possible ethical conflict Cindy is facing the reason behind the conflict. 15 15 When describing the possible conflict Cindy and the organization are facing based on the proposed scenario, the DNP-Student will need to demonstrate knowledge of the healthcare environment by integrating bioethical and legal dimensions into clinical and management decision-making.
C) Based on the case scenario, description provided of the potential consequences in reporting vs. not reporting the situation for Cindy 15 15 When describing the potential consequences in reporting vs. not reporting the incident from the case-scenario, the student will demonstrate knowledge of the healthcare environment by integrating bioethical and legal dimensions into clinical and management decision-making. The student will also demonstrate professionalism by discussing, resolving, and learning from ethical dilemma proposed scenario.
D) Description of possible ways to help Cindy as a leader navigate through the proposed ethical conflict. 15 15 Describe a possible leadership style appropriate to use when leading conflict resolution of ethical dilemma. The student describes strategies he/she would use to help the nurse Cindy navigate her ways through this ethical conflict.
E) Description on how a DNP-leader could use this ethical conflict to be productive for the organization and the staff.
F) Description of possible strategies to improve the team synergy and collaboration after the incident in the proposed case study. 15 15 When describing how could this ethical conflict be used by a DNP-leader as productive for the organization and the staff, the student reflects on the meaningfulness of using such event to lead and influence in the nursing practice and healthcare and to support patient safety and advanced nursing practice.
When reflecting on the possible different team concerns in tackling the issue, students illustrate strategies that could be used to help improve team synergy and collaboration with the staff after the incident. By doing so, the student demonstrates understanding of how communication and group dynamics affects conflict, evaluate the art of science and self-awareness, and demonstrate how conflict can be productive by applying conflict resolution techniques.
Conclusion 10 10 Provide a summary of the main point of the content of your paper.
Clarity of writing 10 10 Use of standard English grammar and sentence structure; no spelling errors or typographical errors; organized around the required components using appropriate headers.
APA format
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Use of a minimum of six current scholarly references. 10 10 All information taken from another source (even if summarized) appropriately cited in the report (including citation of interview) and listed in references using APA (6th ed.) format
1. Document setup
2. Title and reference pages
3. Citations in the text and references
The student uses a minimum of six scholarly articles for the assignment
Total: 100 100
A quality report will meet or exceed all of the above requirements.
GRADING RUBRIC
Assignment Criteria Meets Criteria Partially Meets Criteria Does Not Meet Criteria
Introduction
(10 points) Excellent introduction of an ethical conflict situation by providing a summary of the case study presented, by providing a definition of the principle of nonmaleficence and fidelity and its application to ethical conflict, and briefly provides an overview of the content of the paper.
7-10 points Basic introduction of an ethical conflict situation by providing a summary of the case study presented, by providing a definition of the principle of nonmaleficence and fidelity and its application to ethical conflict, and briefly provides an overview of the content of the paper.
4–6 points Little or very general introduction of the assignment and purpose. Introduction not well developed.
0–3 points
Based on the proposed case scenario, description provided of a possible ethical conflict Cindy is facing the reason behind the conflict.
(15 points) Excellent description of the possible conflict Cindy and the organization are facing based on the proposed scenario. The DNP-Student demonstrates knowledge of the healthcare environment by integrating substantive bioethical and legal dimensions into clinical and management decision-making.
10–15 points Basic description of the possible conflict Cindy and the organization are facing based on the proposed scenario. The DNP-Student demonstrates basic knowledge of the healthcare environment by integrating some bioethical and legal dimensions into clinical and management decision-making.
5–9 points Little or very general description of the possible conflict Cindy and the organization are facing based on the proposed scenario. The DNP-Student does not demonstrate knowledge of the healthcare environment by not integrating bioethical and legal dimensions into clinical and management decision-making in answering
0–4 points
C) Based on the case scenario, description provided of the potential consequences in reporting vs. not reporting the situation for Cindy?
15 points Excellent description of the potential consequences in reporting vs. not reporting the incident from the case-scenario. The student demonstrates excellent knowledge of the healthcare environment by integrating substantive bioethical and legal dimensions into clinical and management decision-making. The student will also demonstrate professionalism by discussing, resolving, and learning from ethical dilemma proposed scenario.
10–15 points Basic description of the potential consequences in reporting vs. not reporting the incident from the case-scenario. The student demonstrates basic knowledge of the healthcare environment by integrating substantive bioethical and legal dimensions into clinical and management decision-making. The student demonstrates basic professionalism by superficially discussing, resolving, and learning from ethical dilemma proposed scenario.
5–9 points Little to no description of the potential consequences in reporting vs. not reporting the incident from the case-scenario included. The student does not demonstrate knowledge of the healthcare environment. The Student does not integrate substantive bioethical and legal dimensions into clinical and management decision-making. The student does not demonstrate professionalism in discussing, resolving, and learning from ethical dilemma proposed scenario.
0–4 points
Description of possible ways to help Cindy as a leader navigate through the proposed ethical conflict.
(15 points) Excellent description of a possible leadership style appropriate to use when leading conflict resolution of ethical dilemma.
10–15 points Basic description of a possible leadership style appropriate to use when leading conflict resolution of ethical dilemma.
5–9 points Little or very general description of a possible leadership style appropriate to use leading conflict resolution of ethical dilemma.
0–4 points
Description on how a DNP-leader could use this ethical conflict to be productive for the organization and the staff.
Description of possible strategies to improve the team synergy and collaboration after the incident in the proposed case study. (15 points) Excellent description of how this ethical-conflict could be used by a DNP-leader as productive for the organization and the staff. The student provides an excellent reflection on the meaningfulness of using such event to lead and influence in the nursing practice and healthcare and to support patient safety and advanced nursing practice.
Excellent reflection on the possible different team concerns in tackling the issue. The student provide excellent strategies that could be used to help improve team synergy and collaboration with the staff after the incident. By doing so, the student demonstrate an excellent understanding of how communication and group dynamics affects conflict, evaluate the art of science and self-awareness, and demonstrate how conflict can be productive by applying conflict resolution techniques.
10–15 points Basic description of how this ethical-conflict could be used by a DNP-leader as productive for the organization and the staff. The student provides basic reflection on the meaningfulness of using such event to lead and influence in the nursing practice and healthcare and to support patient safety and advanced nursing practice.
Basic reflection on the possible different team concerns in tackling the issue. The student provides basic strategies that could be used to help improve team synergy and collaboration with the staff after the incident. By doing so, the student demonstrates basic understanding of how communication and group dynamics affects conflict, evaluate the art of science and self-awareness, and demonstrate how conflict can be productive by applying conflict resolution techniques.
5-9 points Little to none description of how this ethical-conflict could be used by a DNP-leader as productive for the organization and the staff. The student does not provide reflection on the meaningfulness of using such event to lead and influence in the nursing practice and healthcare and to support patient safety and advanced nursing practice.
No reflection on the possible different team concerns in tackling the issue provided. The student does not provide strategies that could be used to help improve team synergy and collaboration with the staff after the incident. By doing so, the student does not demonstrate understanding of how communication and group dynamics affects conflict, evaluate the art of science and self-awareness, and demonstrate how conflict can be productive by applying conflict resolution techniques.
4-0 points
Conclusion
(10 points) Provide an excellent summary of the main point of the content of the paper.
8–10 points Provide a basic summary of the main point of the content of the paper.
3–7 points Provide little summary of the main point of the content of the paper.
0–2 points
Clarity of writing
(10 points) Excellent use of standard English showing original thought; no spelling or grammar errors; well organized with proper flow of meaning
8–10 points Some evidence of own expression and competent use of language; no more than three spelling or grammar errors; well organized thoughts and concepts
3–7 points Language needs development; four or more spelling and/or grammar errors; poorly organized thoughts and concepts
0–2 points
APA format
&
Use of a minimum of six current scholarly references.
(10 points) APA format is correct with no more than 1–2 minor errors
Use of a minimum of six current scholarly references.
8–10 points Three to five errors in APA format and/or 1–2 citations missing.
Use of a minimum of three to five current scholarly references.
3–7 points APA formatting contains multiple errors and/or several citations missing
Use none to two scholarly references; or use of outdated scholarly references.
0–2 points
Total Points Possible = __100 points