Authors

  1. Catalano, Joseph T. PhD, RN

Article Content

CASE STUDIES IN NURSING ETHICS (3RD ED.)

Readers of the previous two editions of the Fry and Veatch text will enjoy the revised and updated version that has become a classic in the ever-changing realm of nursing and healthcare ethics. As the primary client advocates, nurses are often caught in the cross hairs between the clients' rights and the needs and demands of increasing healthcare technology and decreasing personalization of the healthcare system. The ability to use critical thinking in developing unique yet ethical ways to resolve a variety of dilemmas is a necessary skill for the practicing nurse today.

 

Practice is still the best method to develop any skill, and with over 150 case studies presented in the book, readers will have ample opportunity to develop their ethical decision-making muscles. A number of newly added case studies deal with current concerns that nurses may encounter in today's healthcare system. The authors offer a set of basic ethical principles that can be used in analyzing the book's case studies and present their own application of ethical principles to the case studies. However, the case studies do stand alone and may be used independently for analysis with any system of ethical decision making.

 

The third edition of the text has also updated its approach to the resolution of ethical dilemmas to reflect the 2001 ANA Code of Nursing Ethics and current federal regulations, such as HIPPA. Keeping in step with the current push towards evidence-based practice, a number of research references and summaries reflecting current (and past) research into ethical decision making were added. There is now an extensive glossary of terms to enhance the reader's understanding of sometimes confusing concepts.

 

Critical care nurses will find this text particularly relevant because a large percentage of the case studies deal with ethical issues that often arise in the critical care setting. However, the case studies are drawn from a wide range of healthcare settings, including community health, clinics, and surgery. Nurses who take ethical decision making seriously and have a desire to increase their skills in this area will find this book a useful tool.

 

Reviewed by

 

Joseph T. Catalano, PhD, RN

 

Chair and Professor of Nursing,

 

East Central University, Ada, Okla

 

Dr. Catalano is a member of the editorial board of DCCN [email protected]