A nurse is working in an emergency department with limited resources. Multiple patients need immediate care, including a child with a broken arm and an elderly patient with chest pain. Which ethical principle should guide the nurse’s decision-making in prioritizing care?
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: Justice
Explanation (300 words):
In emergency situations with limited resources, justice is the key ethical principle that should guide a nurse’s decision-making when prioritizing patient care. Justice, in the context of healthcare ethics, refers to fairness in the distribution of resources and treatment. It ensures that patients receive care based on urgency of medical need, not age, status, or other non-clinical factors.
In this scenario, the nurse is faced with a child with a broken arm and an elderly patient experiencing chest pain. While both require care, chest pain may indicate a life-threatening condition such as a heart attack, which demands immediate attention to prevent death or serious complications. A broken arm, although painful and urgent, is typically not life-threatening and can safely wait for a short time. Therefore, applying the principle of justice would mean prioritizing the patient with the greatest immediate need, which is the elderly patient with chest pain.
Justice is closely tied to the concept of triage, which is commonly used in emergency settings. Triage involves evaluating the severity of patients’ conditions and allocating resources accordingly. This process helps ensure the most efficient and fair use of limited resources, particularly in high-pressure environments like emergency departments.
It is also important to note that justice does not mean treating everyone exactly the same—it means treating people equitably based on their individual situations. By focusing on who needs care the most, the nurse upholds ethical practice and contributes to the overall well-being of all patients involved.
In summary, justice ensures fair, efficient, and medically appropriate care in situations where not all patients can be treated at once. It supports clinical judgment and prioritization based on urgency and potential outcomes, which is essential in emergency nursing.