Your writing needs to be substantive by addressing the topic specifically using approximately 800 – 1200 words as a guide. Citations and references are required and should be in APA 7th edition format. Provide at least 1 reference from each topic area (End of Life and Mental Health). Address both topic areas:
Watch the following video:
After Brittany Maynard, right-to-die movement finds new life beyond Oregon
Apply ethical principles to consider the questions below. There is no need to answer each question. The questions are there to act as a catalyst.
Address End of Life Ethics:
Focus on any of the following or alternative angles:
- Make the case for physician-assisted death
- Make the case against physician-assisted death
- Might physician-assisted death be more accepted for older adults versus the 29-year-old Brittney Maynard or children? Explain your answer.
- When thinking of death with dignity, explain what this means to you and what this would look like when providing nursing care
- Discuss any differences in how death with dignity might be viewed for different ages. Would this look different for an older adult versus a young adult or child/infant?
- Should physician-assisted death to be considered in pandemics (such as COVID-19) when there is a lack of resources and caregivers? What should be taken into consideration? Age? Co-morbidities? Other?
Address Mental Health Ethics:
As a nurse, you will be faced with ethical issues such as the ones faced by those caring for Brittney Maynard. Additionally, as a nurse (and student nurse) it is “OK not to be OK”.
Nurses are human beings who are doing their best.
Nurses are not weak because they are tired.
Nurses are worthy of support and of being healthy and happy.
Focus on any of the following or an alternative angle:
- As a bedside nurse, how do you think that you will avoid carrying the “residue” of each work shift home with you each day? What is your plan for self-care?
- What is your plan for self-care for the days when it isn’t possible to meet all the ethical values that you hold about equity, patients, families, nursing, death/dying, etc.?
- Is there a ritual at the end of each shift that you might use for “letting go of the day”?
- How will you have gratitude for the great work you do versus having an “I’m just doing my job” mentality? Are you able to receive thanks for the work that you do? Explain.
- How will you treat yourself with kindness rather than judgment when you can’t meet the expectations that you’ve set for yourself?
- Who is the person who is always there for you? What would they say to you on a bad day? Are you able to say that to yourself? Explain.
