Nursing 4210 - Health: Transitions

Learning Activity #4 (Online)
Ethics and Social Theory in the Community

Overview:

The vision, values, and principles proposed by the Ministry of Health requires the adoption of a new “culture” within the health and social service arena. The system’s culture must place a greater emphasis on the importance of clients being decision-makers, and valued members of the community. An emphasis on caring relationships over service provision is needed; flexibility over rules; wellness over illness; and risk taking over rigid safety concerns. The envisioned culture is one in which the system and its clients share the same values, and in which a wide range of coordinated services is readily available.

Ethics has been a strong part of nursing since the beginning of the profession. Now that nursing and health care of moving to a regionalization focus, theoretically, more and more decisions related to funds allocation and approval of proposed programs is in the jurisdiction of Regional Health Authorities. As well, more and more health care is being provided in the community setting, including clients’ homes, clinics, and both large and small community agencies. Mental health initiatives has decentralized health care for chronically ill mental health clients to a more regional milieu, plus tertiary care at institutions, such as Riverview Hospital.

The ethical dilemmas (both predicted and currently common) that nurses may face while working in the community setting are both multiple and complicated. “Whistle blowing” has become a concern of many nurses, which impacts on the protection of high standards of care, patient advocacy and client rights, and support for peers and colleagues.