Assignment: Identification and Analysis of an Ethical Dilemma in Nursing Practice

Course Context

For this Spring 2026 semester assignment in advanced nursing ethics courses such as NURS 521 or equivalent, students will reflect on and analyze a real-world ethical dilemma encountered during clinical practice. This task builds on previous semesters’ focus on ethical decision-making, incorporating updated guidelines from recent professional standards to enhance critical thinking and application of ethical principles in healthcare settings.

Assignment Instructions

Write a 5-page paper (approximately 1,250-1,500 words, excluding title page and references) that identifies and analyzes an ethical dilemma from your own clinical nursing experience. The dilemma should relate directly to your role as a nurse or nursing student, such as conflicts involving patient autonomy, confidentiality, end-of-life decisions, or resource allocation in high-pressure environments. Ensure all individuals and locations are de-identified to maintain confidentiality. Use APA 7th edition formatting throughout the document.

Structure and Requirements

1. Narrative Section (First Person): Provide a detailed account of the ethical dilemma experience. Describe the context, key stakeholders, events leading to the dilemma, and the specific moral conflict. Conclude this section by explicitly stating the ethical dilemma.
2. Analysis Section (Third Person): Apply a recognized ethical decision-making model (e.g., the Park 2012 model or similar frameworks from current literature) to dissect the dilemma. Identify involved principles like autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. Discuss at least two potential courses of action, supported by ethical theories such as utilitarianism, deontology, or virtue ethics. Propose a reasoned recommendation and include a plan for evaluating the decision’s outcomes. Integrate insights from at least 9 credible academic sources, prioritizing recent peer-reviewed journals and Canadian nursing guidelines where applicable.
3. Personal Reflection Section (First Person): Examine how the dilemma aligns with your personal values and professional convictions. Discuss its impact on your moral identity, agency, or potential for distress as a nurse. Reflect on strategies to mitigate similar challenges in future practice.

Support your analysis with diverse sources including peer-reviewed articles, professional guidelines (e.g., from the Canadian Nurses Association), government reports, and NGO publications. Avoid relying solely on textbooks or class notes; cite original sources instead. This assignment encourages deeper exploration of moral sensitivity in nursing to prepare for real-time ethical navigation in diverse healthcare scenarios.

Rubric and Assessment Criteria

• Narrative (20%): Clear, compelling storytelling with explicit dilemma identification and contextual details.
• Analysis (40%): Thorough application of an ethical model, identification of stakeholders and principles, logical options with theory-based rationales, defensible recommendation, and evaluation plan.
• Reflection (20%): Insightful discussion of personal values, moral impact, and strategies for ethical resilience.
• Scholarship and Writing (10%): Integration of at least 9 academic references, logical flow, error-free grammar, and adherence to APA 7th edition.
• Originality and Relevance (10%): Unique perspective on a clinical dilemma, aligned with current nursing ethics trends.

Submit via the course learning management system by the due date. Late submissions may incur penalties unless prior approval is granted.

Sample Response Study Notes

Nurses often encounter situations where patient confidentiality clashes with the need to protect vulnerable individuals, such as when a colleague’s error risks harm without disclosure. In one instance, a registered nurse observed a medication administration mistake during a shift change and weighed the options of reporting it immediately or discussing it privately first to preserve team trust. The decision to report through proper channels upheld the principle of non-maleficence and ensured patient safety, although it strained professional relationships temporarily. Reflecting on this, the nurse recognized that prioritizing ethical accountability fosters a culture of continuous improvement in healthcare delivery. Future encounters can benefit from proactive ethics training to build confidence in handling such conflicts. Effective communication among team members reduces the likelihood of recurring issues and supports moral resilience in high-stakes environments. As noted in a study on nursing students’ dilemmas, early exposure to ethical frameworks enhances decision-making skills in clinical settings (Albert et al., 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2019.104389).

Analyzing ethical dilemmas in nursing requires a structured approach that balances core principles like autonomy and justice, drawing from evidence-based models to guide resolutions. Research from the Journal of Clinical Nursing indicates that integrative reviews of nurses’ experiences reveal common themes of moral distress, often mitigated through interdisciplinary consultations and policy adherence (Rainer et al., 2018). Case studies from organizations like the American Nurses Association further demonstrate how data-driven interventions, such as ethics committees, improve outcomes in complex scenarios, empowering students to apply these strategies in their own practice for enhanced patient-centered care.

Create a 5-page reflective assignment on an ethical dilemma from clinical nursing practice, incorporating decision-making models, ethical theories, and personal values for comprehensive ethical evaluation. Write a 1,250-1,500 word APA 7th edition paper analyzing a personal ethical dilemma in nursing, featuring a narrative, model-based analysis, and reflective insights to develop professional ethical competence.

 References (APA 7th Edition)

1. Albert, J. S., Younas, A., & Sana, S. (2020). Nursing students’ ethical dilemmas regarding patient care: An integrative review. Nurse Education Today, 88, Article 104389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2019.104389
2. Hwu, L. J., Lee, Y. H., & Huang, Y. C. (2025). Exploring ethical dilemmas and coping strategies in nursing: A focus group study of nurses and nursing students. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 57(1), 45-56. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12021456
3. Kaşıkçı, M., & Yıldırım, Z. (2025). Interventions to improve ethical decision-making skills in nursing students: A systematic review. Nursing Ethics, 32(2), 123-140. https://doi.org/10.1177/09697330241239917
4. Yang, H. M., Kim, S. Y., & Park, J. H. (2025). Ethics of nursing in the digital age: Perceptions and challenges among Korean nursing students. BMC Medical Ethics, 26(1), Article 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-025-01301-6