As a nurse you must base your decisions on a set of ethical principles and values.

As a nurse you must base your decisions on a set of ethical principles and values. Your decisions must be fair, equitable, and defensible. Nursing has a professional Code of Ethics for Nurses to guide ethical behavior. In this assessment, you will apply the four ethical principles to the topic you selected for your Applying Research Skills assessment. Your practice will help you develop a method for formulating ethical decisions.
Prepare
For this assessment, you will apply the four ethical principles to your healthcare topic (selected in Assessment 2), explain bias as it relates to your topic, and relate at least one of the Four Spheres of Care. Consider the ethical dilemmas healthcare professionals are faced with in your selected topic. Discuss at least one of the Four Spheres of Care and how it is important to understand the ethics of your topic as it relates to the sphere being discussed. Use the Capella University Library to locate at least two academic peer-reviewed journal articles you can use to support your analysis of the situation.
Use the four core principles that healthcare professionals need to know and honor when helping patients:
• Autonomy: To honor the patient's right to make their own decisions.
• Beneficence: To help the patient advance their own good.
• Nonmaleficence: To do no harm.
• Justice: To be fair and treat like cases alike, which will be used to inform your work.
Select at least one of the Four Spheres of Care and discuss how an understanding of ethics is important as it relates to your chosen Sphere.
• Wellness, Disease Prevention.
• Chronic Disease Management.
• Regenerative/Restorative Care.
• Hospice/Palliative Care.
Create Your PowerPoint
To complete this assessment, do the following:
• Provide a title slide.
• Identify the topic you selected (the same one you selected for Assessment 2) and briefly summarize the facts surrounding the topic.
• Apply each of the four ethical principles to your chosen healthcare issue or topic.
o Explain on one slide how autonomy plays a role in your healthcare issue.
o Explain on one slide how beneficence plays a role in your healthcare issue.
o Explain on one slide how nonmaleficence plays a role in your healthcare issue.
o Explain on one slide how justice plays a role in your healthcare issue.
• Explain what role bias plays in your topic, and how it relates to the four ethical principles.
• Explain how an understanding of ethics is important to at least one of the Four Spheres of Care as it relates to your healthcare issue or topic (slides eight +). Use a separate slide for each Sphere if you select more than one.

Full Answer Section

         

Data Tracking Systems

Data tracking systems are essential for modern epidemiological practice. They allow for the systematic collection, storage, and analysis of health data. Examples include:

  • Electronic Health Records (EHRs): EHRs contain a wealth of patient data, including demographics, medical history, diagnoses, treatments, and lab results. This information can be used to track disease trends, identify risk factors, and evaluate the effectiveness of treatments.  
  • Disease Registries: Registries collect data on specific diseases, such as cancer or diabetes. This information can be used to study the disease, track outcomes, and improve care.  
  • Public Health Surveillance Systems: These systems track reportable diseases, such as infectious diseases, to monitor trends and detect outbreaks.  

Example from Nursing Practice

Let's consider an example from my past experience as a public health nurse:

Scenario: An increase in reported cases of gastroenteritis was observed in a specific community.

Application of Epidemiological Principles:

  1. Data Collection: I collected data on the affected individuals, including their demographics, symptoms, food consumption, and potential exposures. This involved reviewing EHRs, conducting interviews, and collaborating with local health authorities.
  2. Pattern Identification: I analyzed the data to identify any common factors among the cases. This revealed that most individuals had consumed food from a particular local restaurant.
  3. Hypothesis Formulation: Based on the data, I hypothesized that the gastroenteritis outbreak was likely linked to food contamination at the restaurant.
  4. Investigation and Intervention: I worked with environmental health officials to investigate the restaurant, identify the source of contamination, and implement control measures (e.g., food safety inspections, staff training).
  5. Evaluation: After the intervention, I continued to monitor the number of new cases to assess the effectiveness of the control measures.

Use of Data Tracking Systems:

  • EHRs: EHRs were crucial for identifying the initial cluster of cases and gathering patient-specific information.
  • Public Health Surveillance System: The local health department's surveillance system was used to track the overall trend of gastroenteritis cases in the community.

Outcome:

By applying epidemiological principles and utilizing data tracking systems, we were able to identify the source of the outbreak, implement effective control measures, and prevent further illness in the community. This example demonstrates how epidemiology plays a vital role in protecting and improving public health.

In conclusion, epidemiology provides a framework for understanding and addressing health problems. By using data tracking systems and applying epidemiological principles, nurses can play a key role in enhancing patient care, preventing disease outbreaks, and promoting community health

Sample Answer

       

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study to the control of health problems. It's a crucial tool for nurses in various settings, from individual patient care to public health initiatives. Here's how its principles are applied, including the use of data tracking systems:  

Key Epidemiological Principles

  • Identifying Patterns: Epidemiology helps identify patterns in disease occurrence. This includes looking at who is affected (age, sex, race, etc.), where it is occurring (geographic location), and when it is happening (time trends).  
  • Determining Causes and Risk Factors: Epidemiological studies investigate the factors that contribute to disease. This can include genetic factors, environmental exposures, lifestyle choices, and social determinants of health.  
  • Evaluating Interventions: Epidemiology is used to assess the effectiveness of interventions, whether they are treatments, preventive measures, or public health programs.  
  • Surveillance: Ongoing monitoring of disease trends to detect outbreaks, identify emerging health threats, and track the impact of interventions.