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Nursing as Moral Argents
Nursing as Moral Argents
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Institutional Affiliation
Nursing as Moral Argents
A moral agent does things with reference to knowing what is wrong or right and can personally be held responsible for his or her actions. In the nursing profession, nurses are seen as people who care for patients in almost every aspect of life. Their main duties being to provide the best possible care a patient can receive. In their code of professional conduct and business values, they should be responsible for every action and decision they make in their line of duty (Allen, 2011). Nursing can be practiced by anybody, for example, a family member may decide to take care of another sick family member. The only difference here is that a professional nurse works with certain set codes of nursing conducts and business ethics.
It, therefore, means that, nurses must hold moral competency in their duties for the delivery of good healthcare to the patients. Competency is the ability of a person to deliver good outcomes in their duties at all times. Competency in nursing includes the possession of basic nursing skills and the technical knowledge of handling different medical equipment and the ability to read and interpret medical reports that will lead to the delivery of the desired services by the patients. Morally, competent nurses will always advocate in the best interest of their patients. Many nursing councils have adopted advocacy as an essential part of the nursing career with the main focus being on the safety of patients
Reports of past occurrence show that patients get involved in fatal incidents such as injection of wrong drugs, suffocation due to lack of enough oxygen and also prescription of wrong medication. In a bid to help nurses act more responsibly, the American Nurses Association (ANA) have developed new work standards for nurses.
Nurses on their parts, have to demonstrate high levels of competence in caring for patients. They must possess the necessary basic skills required to carry out their duties. Nurses also should have and uphold the values that their profession demands. The values range from personal, social, and professional. These are the major indicators of ethical competence in the nursing profession. Nurses do a great deal of work in terms of caring for the patients. It doesn’t only involve classwork as there is so much of practical work involved. Nursing is a field that demands much more than just classwork. They must have desire to help a suffering person. According to Allen (2011), compassion is another key component in the moral competence of a nurse. It is not just only responding to the suffering of others, but is more of an obligation in the nursing practice. Kindness and loving are other core values in the moral competency. Nurses must always feel love for the patients they care for and be kind to them at all times. As a result, strong trust will develop between the nurses and their patients, thereby aiding in the recovery process of the patients. Consequently, these two values should be included as values of moral competence that nurses must exhibit and uphold in the nursing practice.
Responsibility is a value that expresses the level of accountability by the nurses. It implies that nurses do what is right and make decisions from an informed position, for example, call for an emergency when it is necessary. Therefore, nurses need to recognize mistakes and quickly correct them so as not to compromise their moral obligations. Discipline is another key value for nurses who want to be morally competent (Basavanthappa, 2008). Being disciplined in nursing is the ability of nurses to carry themselves with dignity in discharging their duties and be able lead an organized life. With high levels of discipline maintained among nurses, they can perform much better in a social environment where they get to interact with many people of different kinds. It goes a long way in cultivating the liaison between nurses and their patients. This value, however, should come from the inside of a person and not necessarily leant or practiced. Studies have shown that nurses who uphold high standards of discipline in their jobs have goods records of successful recoveries of most patients. Honesty is another value that focuses more on the nurses to uphold the truth and avoiding deceit as well as being truthful to others. Consequently, nurses will be able to make good judgments on their actions. It also involves clearing up any misunderstandings that may arise and thereby creating a healthy working environment for both the nurses and their patients. Lastly, respect for human values is very crucial for nursing practice. Without the respect for human values, patients may feel lost and as not being part of others. Nurses meet different patients with different needs, but all these patients must be treated equally to help them feel appreciated and respected for who they are (Basavanthappa, 2008). As a result, this will aid in improving their general health and at the same time reducing the sense of feeling lonely among them.
In conclusion, nursing profession calls for more than just passing exams in the classwork. It should reflect the passion one has for helping others. Nursing practice is a field that is guided by the set work ethics, and also the ethical standards that a person aspiring to be a nurse must uphold.
ReferencesAllen, J. E. (2011). Nursing Home Administration. New York: Springer Pub.
Basavanthappa, . (2008). Community Health Nursing. S.l.: Jaypee Bros. Medical P.
Department of education
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Tutor
Course
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Introduction
Education has been one of the most contentious subjects or topics in the recent times. It is widely accepted or recognized that an individual’s level of education has a bearing on the quality of life led by an individual. Of course, there are instances where individuals with little education end up as quite successful. That, however, does not undermine the role that education plays in enhancing people’s standards of living and, consequently, the economic capacity of the entire country. This would explain why many countries or governments pay quite a lot of attention on the policies that pertain to education. It goes without saying, however, that access to education has been unequal in the United States for a long time. This is what resulted to the establishment or creation of the U.S Department of Education by President Jimmy Carter in 1979. The law that established the Department of Education stated that it was to serve public interest and promote welfare, as well as ensure that all issues pertaining to education receive the appropriate treatment. In addition, it aimed at enabling the federal government to manage its education activities in an enhanced manner. At the time of establishment, the proponents felt that as much as education was a local and state responsibility education was still of national interest. This was because it directly impacted on the ability of the nation to compete at the international level, as well as defend itself during war times. In essence, its creation provided a direct line of communication and influence with the president as far as matters pertaining to education were concerned. As much as these were extremely noble causes, recent times have seen an increase in calls for the elimination of the Department of Education. Whether these calls are politically motivated or not, there emerges the question as to whether the department has lived up to its calling. Do the cons of having the department in place outweigh the pros of the same? In my opinion, the department should be eliminated if sanity in the education sector is to be restored.
First, it is worth noting that education was under the Department of Health, Education and Welfare prior to the establishment of the Department of education. These are departments that are supposed to be working hand in hand, especially having in mind that, for any child to exploit or take maximum advantage of all educational opportunities, he or she has to be healthy, have a full stomach and come from a safe home. This holistic approach is entirely absent in the federal initiatives pertaining to education (Strauss, 16). Instead, the competing departments are always engaging in bureaucratic turf wars that have tragic results for children. In fact, the establishment of bureaucracies fills the offices with unresponsive individuals who are too busy completing some paperwork to carry out real work, and intrude too much into the state and local decision-making (Strauss, 16). In essence, its elimination would enhance the efficiency and the responsiveness of the government to matters pertaining to education.
In addition, the establishment of the Department of Education tended to transfer the resources away from the state and local sources to a uniform or one-size-fits-all umbrella. This is hardly the appropriate recipe for alleviating educational problems. This explains why the meddling of the federal government in educational matters has been a failure (Murray, 56). It goes without saying that, there is no way that a few federal bureaucrats can sit in Washington DC and come up with a curriculum that meets the distinctive needs of millions of American school children across the country. This control over matters to do with education should be restored to the local and state levels, where parents and teachers will be in charge of the matters. This is because the parents and teachers understand their children best, in which case they are best suited or placed to come up with the appropriate curriculum that suits their children. This would eventually uplift the condition of the education system in the country.
Still on the same case, it is imperative that the government carries a cost-benefit analysis of the Department of Education. The education of the American children is too crucial to be left in the hands of a federal, centralized bureaucracy. It is worth noting that the creation of the Department of Education was a political payoff by Jimmy Carter to the teachers’ unions due to their endorsement in 1976. In essence, it is imperative to judge all agencies of the government, not on their intentions but by their results (Murray, 45). Unfortunately, the Department of Education seems to have only worsened things as far as the educational outcomes of students is concerned. The test scores of students in science, mathematics and reading, have either gone down or remained flat in the last four decades. This is irrespective of the fact that the federal agencies have eaten into the public coffers more than it was initially predicted. In 2011, the Department of Education’s budget was $77.8 billion up from $13.1 in 1980, in terms of 2007 dollars. This is, in fact, close to six times the size of the department’s original budget. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the outcomes of student tests. Studies by Cato Institute have shown how an increase in federal spending has not translated into a positive impact of educational impact. It has always been known that there is no way an individual can use the same apparatus, the same process and the same variables and hope to get different results. Overturning the test scores or the performance of American students goes beyond simplistic strategies and calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the entire educational system. This would be impossible within the bureaucratic framework of the federal system, which implies that the elimination of the Department of Education is imperative.
In addition, the constitutionality of the Department of Education is extremely questionable just like many other things pertaining to the federal government. The Federal Government incorporates approximately 30 enumerated powers, which the constitution delegated to it. It is noteworthy that education is not explicitly listed in the constitution, in which case the authority and control over education should be left to the local and state governments or rather the parents and teachers (Murray, 45). In fact, Ronald Reagan campaigned on the platform of eliminating the Department of Education in 1980, right after Jimmy Carter established it. The GOP platform in 1996 read that the Federal Government incorporated no constitutional authority as far as its involvement in school curricula was concerned. In essence, the government was to eliminate the Department of Education and end the meddling of the Federal government in American schools, as well as enhance family choice in all learning levels (Murray, 34).
Perhaps the worst aspect pertaining to the Department of Education is the fact that, it has regenerated into a monstrous propaganda machine that is funded using public coffers to promote an agenda that is against most American’s values (Goetsch, 23). It is a monstrous entrenched bureaucracy that utilizes the power of the purse to instruct or indoctrinate teachers, administrators and students in ways that promote revisionist history, socialism, multiculturalism and homosexuality. Its programs emphasize on victimhood over personal responsibility, entitlement mentality over work ethic, self-esteem over discipline, and compliance over individual liberty (Goetsch, 23). This is hardly the best way to bring up the American children who happen to be the future of the nation. In essence, it is imperative that the Department of Education is eliminated at least to eliminate the wastage of public funds on unsuccessful schemes and propaganda.
In conclusion, the Department of Education was established in an effort to enhance welfare in the educational system and enhance the quality of education. However, it has regenerated into a monstrous propaganda machine, delivered nothing in terms of enhancing the performance of American children, and has no explicit constitutional basis. In addition, it is devoid of a holistic approach that is necessary in enhancing the education of American children as pertaining to safe homes, and having a full stomach, something that was well catered for when Education was under the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Studies have shown that the educational outcomes have continuously dropped or remained stagnant despite the increase in the amount of money pumped into the Department of Education’s budget. These dismal outcomes can only be remedied through the elimination of the Department of Education.
Works cited
Strauss, Valerie. Why the Education Dept. should be eliminated – Wood. The Washington Post 2010, retrieved 9th July 2012 from HYPERLINK “http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/george-wood/why-the-education-dept-should.html” http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/george-wood/why-the-education-dept-should.html
Goetsch, David L. Should We Eliminate The U.S. Department of Education? 2012 Web retrieved 7th July 2012 from HYPERLINK “http://patriotupdate.com/articles/should-we-eliminate-the-u-s-department-of-education” http://patriotupdate.com/articles/should-we-eliminate-the-u-s-department-of-education
Murray, Charles. Real Education, Four Simple Truths for Bringing America’s Schools Back to Reality. New York: Crown Publishing Group, 2009. Print
Dental Treatment of a patient
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Professor’s Name
Course
Date
Dental Treatment of a patient
The patient is a 33 year old female in good health under the care of a physician for her general health. However, auscultation and further examination have revealed that the patient suffers from a heart murmur that does not need to be pre-medicated, although her pulse and blood pressure are both normal at 68 beats per minute and 112/64mmHg respectively. Further, the patient is taking tapazole 5 mg due to hyperthyroidism, as well as over the counter medication such as vitamin D 2000, vitamin b complex and flaxseed for her own general health. The patient reports that she is not allergic to any drug or chemical known to her, with a pregnancy test revealing that she is not pregnant.
According to the ASA code, the patient is a II mainly due to the use of the prescription drug Tamazole and knowledge of the fact that the patient suffers from a well controlled thyroid disorder. Both the patient’s report and records reveal that her last visit was 3 months ago, in November of last year, a visit in which she also had her last bite wing (3 months ago). The patient had an FMX done before her dental appointment, with no contraindication found for dental treatment.
Medications
Tapazole, which is also at times referred to as Methimazole is an antithyroid medication that works through inhibiting the thyroid hormone production. Tapazole therefore, helps regulate the production of T3 and T4 (Thyroid hormones) which play key roles in the body’s metabolism. Some of the side effects of Methimazole include: salivary gland swelling and abnormal taste. At times individuals usually experience joint pains, drowsiness, lightheadedness, headaches, muscle pains, vomiting, stomach upsets, numbing and tingling sensations and nausea. Further, and perhaps of quite great import within a clinical setting, is the fact that Tapazople usually produces drug reactions with the following drugs: Propanolol, metoprolol, warfarin, theophylline and digoxin. Tapazole does not however, react with local anaesthesia, which is quite relevant when it comes to dental treatment.
Flaxseed oil improves general health, digestion, and also reduces the level of water retention. According to the patient, her doctor advised her to take flaxseed as a remedy for the weight gain occurring due to her taking tapazole. In terms of dental treatment, flaxseed is not usually a local anaesthesia concern, and is therefore, by extension not a concern when it comes to dental treatment.
Vitamin D
Vitamin is being used by the patient as a dietary supplement that usually has no adverse reaction with dental treatment or local anaesthesia. The supplement also promotes the mineralization of bone by not only reducing calcium excretion, but also stimulating intestinal absorption.
Vitamin B
Similar to the vitamin D, vitamin B is also a supplement that improves general health and essentially has no adverse reaction with anaesthesia and dental treatment. Essentially, vitamin B complex contains B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12, a number of important nutrients when it comes to CNS conditions. B1 and B2 particularly, are essential in the functioning of the muscles, the heart and the nerves, while B3 is important in the regulation of the digestive system and the nervous system. b5 and b12 are particularly important for normal growth and development. B6 aids the nervous system, the digestive system and is also essential when it comes to normal growth. B7 is essential in hormone production while B9 is essential in the making and maintenance of DNA. As such, although the client was taking the medication in order to develop thicker and smoother skin, the benefits are numerous.