Module: Ethics in Nursing

Module Specifications..

Current Academic Year 2023 - 2024

Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title	Ethics in Nursing
Module Code	NS308
School	38
Module Co-ordinator	Semester 1: Kate Irving Semester 2: Kate Irving Autumn: Kate Irving
Module Teachers	Kate Irving Paula Flanagan
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Coursework Only
Students will repeat the same essay with a different ethical scenario.

Description

This module introduces students to analysis and reasoning in the philosophy and ethics tradition. The nature of nursing will be examined; as will key concepts which are said to underpin clinical nursing practice, and which also permeate the professional and academic literature.Various ethical theories and principles are discussed and applied to cases and issues relevant to nursing and health care. The notion of ethical problems, judgements and decisions will be analysed and explored from the perspective of three theories of ethics: deontology, utilitarianism and virtue theory. A broad framework for ethical decision making will be critically evaluated.

Learning Outcomes

1. Consider the nature of nursing and the ethical domain of clinical practice.
2. Apply key skills of philosophical analysis and ethical reasoning.
3. Identify ethical issues in nursing practice and health care.
4. Apply ethical theories and principles to specific cases from practice.
5. Weigh the relative strengths of different positions on ethical issues.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Ethical theories and principles applied to nursing cases and issues
Tutorial	4	Scheduled time for group work
Seminars	4	Discussion of ethical issues raised in films
Independent Study	93	Reading, study and preparation of group project and individual essay
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Philosophy and Ethics
Overview of what philosophy / ethics is and what it seek to do

Critical thinking
Developing and evaluating arguments

The nature of nursing
An examination of nursing as a discipline and practice in the 21st century health service

Ethical principles
Overview of the main principles and their application to nursing

The concept of care
An analysis of the concept of care in nursing and health care practice

Developing and ethical perspective
An examination of the moral domain of nursing practice and the ethical dimension of the nurse/patient relationship

Advocacy
Description and evaluation of different ethical perspectives

Ethical theories
Overview of the main theories and their applicaion to nursing

Personhood
Description and evaluation of different ethical perspectives

Informed consent
Description and evaluation of different ethical perspectives

Emotions ad ethics
An overview of the relevance of emotions in ethical decision making

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Essay	Students will choose an ethical dilemma from their own expereince and complete a moral case deliberation on that case.	100%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Dolores Dooley and Joan McCarthy: 2012, Nursing ethics: Irish cases and concerns, 2nd ed, Gill & Macmillan, Dublin, 9780717149865
Fry, S. T., & Veatch, R. M.: 2000, Case studies in nursing ethics, 2nd ed, Jones & Bartlett, Boston, MA, 0763713333
Margaret A. Burkhardt, Alvita K. Nathaniel: 2008, Ethics & issues in contemporary nursing, Thomson Delmar Learning, Clifton Park, NY, 1418042749
Hugh Mercer Curtler: 2004, Ethical argument, Oxford University Press, New York, 0195173163
Elsie L. Bandman, Bertram Bandman: 2002, Nursing ethics through the life span, 4th ed, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J., 0838569765
Tom L. Beauchamp, James F. Childress,: 2013, Principles of Biomedical Ethics, 7th ed, 978-0-19-992458-5
Mary Donnelly: 2002, Consent: Bridging the Gap Between Doctor and Patient, Cork University Press, Cork, 1859182755
Steven D. Edwards: 1996, Nursing ethics, Macmillan, Basingstoke, 0333615905
Ian E. Thompson, Kath M. Melia, Kenneth M. Boyd: 1994, Nursing ethics, Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 0443048118
Ruth R. Faden, Tom L. Beauchamp: 1986, A history and theory of informed consent, Oxford University Press, New York, 0195036867
Søren Holm: 1997, Ethical problems in clinical practice, Manchester University Press, Manchester, 0719050499
edited by Stanley Hauerwas and Samuel Wells: 2004, The Blackwell companion to Christian ethics, Blackwell, Oxford, 1405150513
R. G. Frey (Editor), Christopher Heath Wellman (Editor): 2005, A Companion To Applied Ethics, Blackwell, Oxford, 1405133457
Helga Kuhse and Peter Singer: 2001, A companion to bioethics, Blackwell, Oxford, 063123019X
A. P. Martinich: 2005, Philosophical Writing, 3rd ed, Malden, Mass, Blackwell, 1405131675
Peter Singer, Helga Kuhse (Editor): 2006, Bioethics: An Anthology, 2nd ed, Blackwell, Oxford, 9781405129480
Verena Tschudin (ed): 2003, Approaches to ethics, Butterworth-Heinemann, Edinburgh, 0750653264
Lewis Vaughn: 2006, Writing philosophy, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 0195179560

Other Resources

28006, DVD, 2003, Nuts, California, Warner Home Video, 28007, DVD, 2001, Wit, United States, HBO, 28008, DVD, 2004, The doctor, London, Buena Vista Home Entertainment,

Programme or List of Programmes

BNGN	BSc in Nursing (General)
BNID	BSc in Nursing (Intellectual Disability)
BNPY	BSc in Nursing (Mental Health)

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