Moral and Ethical Issues Facing Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners
Overview
This paper examines the moral and ethical challenges faced by Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) in clinical practice. It analyzes a research study on decision-making in schizophrenia patients, identifies ethical dilemmas such as forced commitment and patient autonomy violations, and discusses relevant state health laws and ethical decision-making processes.
What this essay covers
- Introduction defining PMHNPs and their roles in psychiatric care
- Analysis of Findlay et al. (2015) study on health behavior decision-making in schizophrenia patients
- Ethical and moral dilemmas including forced commitment and patient rights violations
- State health laws and regulations governing mental health care
- Ethical decision-making process framework
Preview
Moral and ethical issues facing PMHNPs
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Moral and ethical issues facing PMHNPs
A Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) refers to a registered nurse specializing in dealing with psychiatric cases. These nurses are highly qualified, with the least qualification being a master's degree (Limandri, 2019). PMHNPs diagnose patients and prescribe the best care for mentally ill patients. Their work goes beyond prescribing care to patients to coordinate multidisciplinary service care for patients and provide family and community education on mental illness. PMHNPs, however, face numerous moral and ethical issues like poor decision making in their line of duty.
Article# Findlay, L. J., El-Mallakh, P., Howard, P. B., Hatcher, J., & Clark, J. J. (2015). Health Behavior Decision-making in African-American Adults Diagnosed with Schizophrenia. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 36(7), 493-504.
Ethical issue in the article
The article presents research that Findlay et al. (2015) carried out to determine the relationship between poor decision making and patients who suffer from schizophrenia that might lead to poor healthcare results. Findlay et al. (2015) used a descriptive approach to get information from the patients who suffer schizophrenia to get every detail and experience of the patients. The study used a sample of patients who suffered from the diseases, who were 18 years old and above but locked out the patients who had difficulties communicating. The findings showed that the patients were conscious of their conditions with others admitting that they abuse drugs like marijuana to deal with their mental conditions. Findlay et al.