Seminars in oncology nursing
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The American Cancer Society sponsored a series of hearings to document the magnitude of the problems faced by the poor in seeking cancer care. The findings reflected that economically disadvantaged Americans are often forced to accept substandard health care services and face numerous problems when seeking preventive care and treatment. The glimpse from inside the circle of poverty (statements from the hearings) provides an opportunity to better understand the problems faced by the poor in accessing health care and to better recommend strategies for effecting a positive change.
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Even though nurses engage in ethical decision-making on a daily basis, few practical resources are available and little is known about how nurses resolve ethical dilemmas in the clinical setting. A descriptive clinical ethical decision-making model has been presented and factors influencing current ethical decision-making skills have been identified. What is known suggests that some nurses do not consider multiple options during ethical deliberations. ⋯ Traditionally, nurses have identified ethical dilemmas that imply two options. Nurses need to consider ethical issues, concerns, and situations in order to identify multiple options. Ethics discussions, inservice education, and consultations with ethicists would provide the opportunity to critique previously experienced ethical situations and enhance the nurses's decision-making skills for future situations.