WESTERN MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF NUSRSING
GRADUATE PROGRAM

UTILIZATION OF THEORIES AND ETHICAL

PRINCIPLES IN ETHICAL DECISION MAKING AS
IMPERATIVE FOR HIGHER ORGANIZATIONAL
PHENOMENA
(CN-203)

Submitted by:
AHMARI Z. JULKARNAIN R.N

What do you think is the effect of scientific and

technological advancements in the conduct of mans
work?
Technology affects almost every aspect of our lives. Just
look around you and you'll see how wired we are. Thanks to
the Internet, virtually anything you desire can be delivered to
your door in a matter of days. Personal information is more
accessible over the Internet. You can even trade stocks or file
taxes online. Parents don't need to lose sleep waiting for their
teenage daughter to come home -- they can just call her cell
phone, or send an unobtrusive text, to check up.
But as much as our personal lives have changed, the
business world has revolutionized almost beyond recognition
in the past few decades. Technology -- and we mean the
advances in communication and information technology -- has
changed the face and the pace of business.
As communication and information travels faster and
faster, the world seems smaller and smaller, and this has
large implications for the way we conduct business. Storing
important in files on a computer rather than in drawers, for
instance, has made information easily accessible. Using e-

mail allows businesses to communicate and send these files

quickly to remote locations outside of an office.

Many argue technology has blurred the line between

professional and private lives. Wireless Internet, cell phones
and BlackBerries have made it easy to work from home. On
the flip side, people also feel compelled to use Internet access
at work for personal reasons. In this way, technology allows
workaholics to work and slackers to slack.
With devices becoming increasingly portable and fast, we
can now access our work almost everywhere, seemingly only
dependant on wifi connection. Technologys greatest impacts
in the way in which we work are often cited as the ability for
greater precision, consistency and for easy communication
with one click we can connect with people across the globe at
any time of day, making it far easier to do business with
companies worldwide but what about the impact on office
culture?
The ease of sending emails is overriding the office
workers impulse to pick up the phone or walk over to
someones desk many of our clients complain of email

culture, with clogged inboxes and endless reply-all. This

begs the question of whether new technology has influenced
our business culture or business culture is influencing how we
use new technology. It seems to me that, because we have
access to information instantaneously anytime, we also seek
this from people as well as technology. There have probably
been times when we can all admit to wondering why someone
hasnt responded to our email immediately!
Whilst its useful to stay connected, being able to access five
different communication methods from messaging to face
time on our smart phones also means we have to think
harder about our work/life balance. To resist checking emails
away from the office, when its so quick and easy to do so, is
more difficult than it may seem. Has it become the norm for
our working hours and own time to become blurred?
Although it has both benefits and limitations, technology
can only be what we make of it, and so it is imperative that we
understand the best ways to make it work for us and for our
clients

Discuss the acts in the workplace that may constitute a

criminal offense.

Everyone

has

heard

of

the

terms

bullying

and

harassment where a number of them have experienced either

or both of them. One big example is bullying and harassment
in the workplace. It is not unusual for individuals to consider
bullying and harassment to be almost one and the same but
there exist a difference between these two terms.

While

bullying refers to persistence of unwelcomed behavior mostly

characterized as malicious, insulting, intimidating or offensive
behavior used to injure, humiliate or denigrate the recipient,
harassment on the other hand refers to unwanted actions that
affect the dignity of individuals especially in the workplace
(Keashly, Trott &MacLean 1994). Bullying usually incorporates

discrimination on the basis of competence while harassment

is

usually

connected

with

sex,

prejudice

as

well

as

discrimination itself.
Every person deserves to be treated with respect and
dignity in the workplace.

Bullying and harassment are

behaviors that have been observed to be quite common in

workplace settings and should therefore not be tolerated
(Roland & Christopher 2005). These two vices may be by a
person against another or incorporate groups of individuals.

Bullying and harassment in the workplace are considered

serious issues which require employers to be responsible for
taking responsible steps in preventing such vice (Keashly, et
al. 1994). Some of the actions that may constitute bullying in
the workplace include ridiculing or demeaning an individual
where they are picked on or set up to fail, victimisation,
making threats or comments about job security without
foundation as well as deliberate undermining of a competent
employee by overloading and constant criticism (Needham
2003).

On the other hand, harassment in the workplace

mainly constitutes unwelcome sexual advances which may be

in the form of standing too close, display of offensive
materials or asking for sexual favours, spreading malicious

lies and rumours or insulting an individual by behavior and

word as well as unfair treatment (Roland & Christopher 2005).
As it has been observed, bullying and harassment need
not take place face to face as they may tend to also occur in
written communications, automatic supervision methods as
well as through email (Lynda 2005). A number of people often
question the causes or the reasons as to why bullying and
harassment occur in the workplace. There are a number of
reasons for instance lack of accountability, existence of a
particular culture at work, presence of a rigid style of
management by the senior employers as well as lack of
proper procedure for resolving conflicts in the workplace
(Needham 2003). It is therefore important for employers to
be aware of the fact that these two vices can be detrimental
to the health of their workers as well as potential legal
implications associated with bullying and harassment in the
workplace. Some of the effects and consequences of bullying
and harassment in the workplace include, for the victims,
panic

attacks

or

impaired

ability

to

make

appropriate

decisions, sleep disturbance or stress, low self-confidence and

self-esteem,

sense

of

isolation,

suicide

tendencies,

depression as well as reduced quality of home and family life

(Keashly, et al. 1994).

Victims of bullying and harassment in the workplace who

also happen to be workers of companies automatically lead to
effects on the organization itself for instance there occurs
more sick days, increased staff turnover, less enthusiasm and
motivation to perform tasks well, increased costs related to
training and recruitment, erosion of employee commitment
and loyalty, damaged public image as well as reduced
efficiency

and

production

of

the

company

(Roland

&

Christopher 2005). It is often difficult for employers to tell

whether or not bullying and harassment is taking place in
their organizations as these two vices tend to be rather subtle
and difficult to define. Victims or those experiencing them are
also fearful of being retaliated or ridiculed and may tend to
exhibit anxiety about losing their jobs, escalating the situation
or being demoted as a result (Needham 2003).
Employers

should

therefore

recognize

bullying

and

harassment and take the necessary preventive steps. Some

of these steps include introduction of a no bullying and
harassment policy in the workplace, ensuring that there are
no inappropriate calendars, posters or other material in the
workplace, defining what harassment and bullying means to
ones workplace and communicating this clearly to all
employees as well as setting up training sessions using
professional organizations with expertise in bullying and

harassment prevention training (Keashly, et al. 1994). It is also

important for the employers to ensure that the policy
introduced

covers

all

areas

catered

for

by

the

anti-

discrimination law and that it is linked to other grievance and

disciplinary procedures in addition to any appraisal system for
managers (Lynda 2005).

CONCLUSION
As earlier mentioned, bullying and harassment in the
workplace can be quite detrimental to the safety as well as
health of employees. Bullying and harassment can not only
make one feel humiliated and anxious but also trigger feelings
of frustration and anger at being unable to cope with or
handle the present situation.
employers

to

increase

It is therefore crucial for

employee

understanding

and

awareness of personal bullying and harassment where they

are in a position to recognize signs that might be taking place
in the workplace as a result, for instance complaints and
absenteeism. Employers have a legal duty of ensuring the
safety as well as health of their workers in the workplace.

Discuss the basis for cooperation between workers and

their employees.
In today's competitive world, having years of experience
or higher degree is not enough to avail lucrative jobs. As
today, most of the companies are demanding employees that
can be efficient co -worker in a team. An employee is required
to be a potential team player as well as supportive co worker. In my opinion, it is imperative to have a cooperative
and compatible co- worker for our growth and favorable
working

environment.

Firstly, cooperation is required to carry out duties as a

team member or as an individual. If an individual is working
independently he must able to cooperate with all other
individuals that are sharing the same profile in order to
maintain healthy competition and smooth transaction of task.
If an individual is working in a team, cooperative attitude
takes utmost priority. Numbers of people put in their efforts,
energy, authorities and knowledge to attain single goal.
Herein one need to be cooperative and receptive towards
every team players contribution. It will also allow them to
enhance their knowledge. Flexibility, adapting and adopting
technique will produce beneficial results for all employees.

Secondly, Compatibility in professional field do not come

naturally, it is required to be developed. Compatibility in
works is unlike personal relations wherein emotions are
involved. Here compatibility is required to burn the hindrances
in our growth path. However, compatibility skill help worker to
adapt in any office environment and adjust with any set of co workers. It allows employee to maintain the healthy and
positive environment while working with them. In a scenario,
wherein you are not having vigorous relation with your
subordinates, working with them becomes challenging job.
Adding to it, gradually it would take the shape of rivalry war
due to which employee might conclude to leave the job.
Therefore, it is essential to maintain healthy relation with your
co - worker to avoid conflict and frustration at work place.
Any working professional spend more time with their
office mates during week days then family members. Co
-workers are unavoidable and they are imperative for our
growth. Besides that, every worker is company's asset alike
you, therefore it is essential to make oneself cooperative and
compatible with our co -workers in order to work pleasurably.

Discuss ethical theories that we can use to guide our

moral decision.
Different ethical theories exist and theories can be
applied to different situations to inform our thinking and
support decision making. This section provides an overview of
key theories applicable to healthcare.
Consequentialism
Consequentialist ethics holds the view that the correct
moral response is related to the outcome, or consequence, of
the act. The central aim is the premise of 'maximising the
greatest good for the greatest number'. The 'good' referred to
can be expressed in a variety of ways and may refer to values
or 'utility' such as happiness, being pain or symptom free or
another life enhancing outcome.

As an ethical theory consequentialism is attractive as

there is always an outcome and the correct moral response is
the one which will produce the greatest good for the greatest
number. However, it does have limitations as it can endorse
acts which would be contrary to the rights of individuals if the
end result is one which would improve care for many others.

Ethical Situation
A situation arose where a nurse could not live out the
value in providing safe, compassionate, competent and ethical
care occurred on a busy evening shift on a sub-acute floor. On
this particular evening, the nurse had 7 total-care heavy
patients,

and

was

expected

to

administer

numerous

medications, and provide evening care. During that evening,

two of this nurses patients fell, and she also had to attend to
her partners patient, who also had a fall. After ensuring all
patients were uninjured, administration of medications, and
completion of all assessments, the nurse barely had time to
provide evening care. Two of the patients went to bed without
being washed. The nurse was unable to do hourly safety
checks on her patients, and she felt as if she had gone all

evening without seeing some of her patients. She had to stay

after her shift to complete two incident reports.
This experience affected the nurse deeply, and she did
not feel in the least that she was safely providing care to
these patients. The speed at which this nurse had to complete
her tasks put her and her patients at risk, and the whole shift
felt chaotic. This incident occurred approximately three years
ago, and she still has not accepted another shift on the sub
acute floor.
The barrier the nurse faced in being able to live this
ethical value occurred at an organizational level, and is
brought back to budget cuts. This heavy workload occurred
because of the cost associated with hiring more nurses, or
care aids, to reduce the workload. Another issue may have
been staffing issues for this floor; turnover may be high, as
other nurses may have similar experiences.
Deontology
Deontology is based on duties and rights and respects
individuals as ends in themselves. It places value on the
intentions of the individual (rather than the outcomes of any
action)

and

focuses

on

rules,

obligations

and

duties.

Deontology requires absolute adherence to these obligations

and acting from duty is viewed as acting ethically. One of the

key criticisms in healthcare is that applying a strictly
deontological approach to healthcare can lead to conflicts of
interest between equally entitled individuals which can be
difficult or even seemingly impossible to resolve.

Ethical Situation
Emma Ogden has been suffering from a persistent heart
defect her whole twelve-year-old life.

Dr. Abdul Hamid

conveys to her and her parents that the only chance of

survival that Emma has is a risky heart transplant procedure.
Emma, who is mature for her age, decides that she does not
want to go through with the procedure and accept the
consequences which would be death. Dr. Hamid is startled
and wants to treat her but is stuck.
In deontology, morality is based on what one's duty is and
doing one's duty. In this case, the duty of the physician is to
go through whatever channel he can and see to it that the
heart transplant takes place. Dr. Hamid must overlook the
fact that Emma has stated that she does not want the heart
transplant; after all, Emma is still a minor. How can a twelveyear-old know what's best for her in a field that makes their
students study for practically twelve years. Dr. Hamid does

have a duty towards the parents of Emma since she is a

minor.

He needs to talk to Emma's parents and get the

consent to go through with the procedure.

According to

deontology, I feel that Dr. Hamid's duty towards Emma's

parents is less important than his duty as a physician.

If

consent cannot be obtained, Dr. Hamid's duty still doesn't

change in performing the operation. He must then, like the
last sentence of the case study says, obtain a court order
giving him permission to operate against the wishes of both
the girl and her parents.

Virtue Ethics
The

key

difference

between

consequentialism,

deontology and virtue ethics is that the latter emphasises the

moral character, or virtues of the individual. Virtue ethics has
emerged due to the perceived deficits in ethical theories such
as consequentialism and deontology for healthcare.

The

virtues are embedded character traits which are held to be

societally valuable such as truth-telling, trustworthiness,
honesty and kindness. Practical wisdom relates to how the
virtues are applied or enacted.

Virtue ethics is about an

individual of good character doing the right thing.

Principlism (Beauchamp and Childress, 2008)

Principlism is a commonly used ethical approach in
healthcare.

It

emphasises

four

key

ethical

principles

(autonomy, beneficence, non-malificence, and justice) which

most ethical theories share and blends these with virtues and
practical wisdom. This is an attempt to bring together the
best elements of ethical theories which are compatible with
most societal, individual or religious belief systems.

By

incorporating virtue ethics it enables healthcare professionals,

patients and significant others, to place value or added weight
on a particular principle to find a balance and rationale for
decision-making.
Principlism is not without its critics or criticisms.
However, because it provides a means of integrating multiple
factors and reaching situation specific decisions it continues to
be the most popular and cited ethical framework for
healthcare.