Exploring Ethical Frameworks

Individual Activity (50 points)

Name: Michael Bishof

Case Study Title: #6- Get a Whif

Directions: Using the ethics case study youve selected or been given, discuss
and answer the following questions to the best of your ability.

Step One: Identify the Issue

1. What is the dilemma/problem to be solved in this case and ultimately, what is the
key decision that must be made? Write this so that a stranger could readily
understand the dilemma. Include enough detail to make sure the dilemma is clearly
defined and include the key decision written in the form of a question.

Youre an overnight nursing shift supervisor. You enjoy working with your coworkers and have hung out with
them before work on multiple occasions. One night, a nurse named Sarah, comes in for her 7:00P.M. shift and
is clearly impaired by alcohol. She admits to having wine with her dinner. You call the unit manager, but they do
not want to deal with the situation. Instead, they tell you to have the supervisor coming in at 9:00 P.M. observe
her. In the meantime she would be helping patients. How do you handle the situation?

2. Who are the stakeholders in this dilemma? (Note: Stakeholders are any individuals,
written about in the case or not, who may be afected by the decisions that are
made; check the column that fits.)

STAKEHOLDER In Also
the possibly
Case afected
1. Yourself *
2. Sarah *
3. Unit manager *
4. Supervisor *
5. Other co workers *
6. Sarahs family members *
7. Unit managers family *
members
8.
9.
10.

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Step Two: Outline the Options

3. Consider as many ways to resolve this dilemma as possible and list them below. Its
likely that you will want to solve the problem, but this step asks you to extend your
thinking beyond your initial reaction.
(Note: Step Four, Question 6 asks that you return to this question to label the
frameworks associated with the possible resolutions.)
Options for Resolving Dilemma Ethical
Framework
(see Step Four,
Question 6)

Listen to the unit manager and wait for the next supervisor Practical
and have them observe Sarah.

Contact the next supervisor immediately and explain the situation. Practical

Arrange transportation for Sarah and send her home. Take Justice
over her shift and then report her and the unit manager.

Arrange transportation for Sarah and send her home. Convince herRights
Moral to
call in sick and cover for her. Do not report her.

Arrange transportation for Sarah and send her home. Take Utilitarian
over her shift and then report just her.

Do nothing, let someone else take care of the situation. Practical

Step Three: Gather Evidence/Interview Others

4. Using the key dilemma posed in Step One, interview 10 people on how they would
resolve the problem and why. (Note: As interviewer, please do not share your thoughts
on how you would resolve the problem.) Use the table located on page 6 of this
worksheet to record their responses.
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Step Four: Construct Ethical Arguments

5. Practice using the four ethical frameworks we have examined in class (utilitarian,
moral rights, justice, and practical) and list one resolution for each framework and
explain why it fits there.
If you follow this rule when You will make a decision based
faced with a dilemma on

utilitarian the greatest good for the

greatest number (or the least
harm to others)

moral rights the way you would want to be

treated

justice what is fair and equal for all

involved

practical whether or not the typical

person would find your
decision to be acceptable

a. utilitarian:

Arrange transportation for Sarah and send her home. Take over her shift and then report
just her.

Why does this fit the utilitarian framework?

While Sarah would most likely be punished for her actions, it would cause the least amount of harm to others.
In this case, it would do the least amount of harm to the patients and other coworkers.

b. moral rights:

Arrange transportation for Sarah and send her home. Convince her to
call in sick and then cover her shift. Do not report her.

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Why does this fit the moral rights framework?
Most people would likely want someone to arrange transportation for them to get home
safely and to not be reportedif they were in the same situation as Sarah.

c. justice:

Arrange transportation for Sarah and send her home. Take over her shift and then report
her and the unit manager.

Why does this fit the justice framework?

Sarah made a poor decision and deserves the consequences that follow. The unit manager also failed to fulfill
their duty, so they deserve to be reported along with Sarah.

d. practical:

Listen to the unit manager and wait for the next supervisor and have them observe
Sarah.

Why does this fit the practical framework?

Most people would understand doing what youre told by a superior.

6. Now, go back to your interviews with others and your own options to solve the
dilemma (see question #3) and label each with the appropriate ethical framework.

Step Five: Evaluate the Arguments

7. Reviewing the responses from the individuals interviewed in Step Three as well as
your own options to solve the dilemma, consider how stakeholders you have identified in
the case might best benefit. Then, rank the frameworks below according to their
perceived merit, with 1 being the highest ranking. (Note: Often we stick to our first
thoughts on how we would resolve the dilemma; this step asks that you expand your
thinking to be more inclusive of others perspectives when ranking the frameworks.)

#1 Utilitarian framework

#2 Moral Rights framework

#3 Justice framework

#4 Practical framework

Step Six: Make a Decision/ Evaluate the Impact

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8. Considering all the possible outcomes that you and those you have interviewed
have associated with each ethical framework, make a decision on how you would resolve
the case.

I would arrange transportation for Sarah and send her home. I would then cover her shift
and report both Sarah and the unit manager.

9. Explain in some detail why you made your decision.

I would arrange transportation for Sarah because I would consider her a risk to the patients, her co workers,
and herself. I wouldnt want her to drive after drinking so I would contact her family or friends to pick her up.
The reason why I would report her is because she made a very poor decision in my opinion, and she put
others lives at risk. If I covered for her and did not report her, she may not learn from her actions and could
repeat her mistake again in the future. If she did do it again, someone may be harmed. I would also report the
unit manager because they did not fulfill their duty when required and were negligent.

10. Explain how each of the stakeholders you listed in Question #2 might be afected by
your decision.

STAKEHOL How might they be afected?

DER
1. Yourself Sarah would most likely dislike you afterwards and would cease communications
and friendly relations. The unit manager would also most likely be unhappy with
you.

2.Sarah Would most likely lose her job or face other consequences. May have a hard time
obtaining another job in the future.

3. Unit May end up facing consequences or possibly even be fired.

manager
4. Would likely have to take action based on what you told them. May or may not
Supervisor agree with your actions. .

5.Patients Would be in better care with Sarah gone for the night. They would have a reduced
risk of harm or mistreatment.

6.Other co Would most likely shun Sarah due to her actions, or you for reporting her. May face
workers consequences themselves if they were working with Sarah and did not report her.

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7. Sarahs May have reduced income if Sarah loses her jobs. Could change their feelings
family towards Sarah due to her actions.

8. Unit May have reduced income if they lose their position.

managers
family
9.

10.

Person What would they do? Why? Which

ethical
framework
did they
use?

1 Arrange transportation for Sarah and So she doesn't mistreat other Moral Rights
take over. Do not report her. patients.

2 Arrange transportation for Would feel responsible and mad Utilitarian

Sarah. Check to see if if something were to happen to
someone is on call. If not, take the patients due to Sarah being
over her shift. Report Sarah. impaired by alcohol.

3 Find a room to put Sarah in
until she sobers up and take
over her shift. May report
Sarah if this has happened
before.
The rest of Sarahs life Moral Rights
may depend on the job.
Shouldnt be punished if
this is her first mistake.

4 Make Sarah leave, let the next Its not safe for the patients or Practical
supervisor know what happened. coworkers.

5 Tell her to go home and then tell the Doesnt want her to hurt Practical
supervisor at 9:00P.M. what anyone, would feel
happened.
responsible.

6 Tell her to go home and call in sick. Danger to patients and a liability Moral Rights
Wouldnt report Sarah. to the hospital. They wouldnt

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 want her to lose her job.

7 Fire Sarah on the spot and then report Sarah was being Justice
what happened. negligent.

8 Tell Sarah as a fellow coworker that Sarah could harm Moral Rights
she shouldnt be working in her patients or herself.
current state.

9 Fire Sarah. She shouldnt have come Justice

to work under the
influence of alcohol.

10 Tell Sarah she shouldnt be Sarah is a danger to the patients Moral Rights
working and that shes clearly so she shouldnt be working.
impaired by alcohol. Convince
her to go home.