Ethical and Legal Implications in Nursing Practice: Analysis of a Practice Dilemma

Assessment Context

Course Placement and Assessment

• Institutional Model: Walden University School of Nursing
• Course: Ethics and Legal Issues in Nursing Practice
• Assessment Type: Written Assignment
• Assessment Number: Week 6 Assignment
• Weighting: 30–35%
• Length: 1,050–1,400 words (4–5 pages, excluding title page and references)
• Referencing Style: APA 7th edition
• Submission Format: Microsoft Word document

Assessment Description

This assignment requires analysis of an ethical and legal dilemma encountered in nursing or healthcare practice. Students are expected to apply ethical principles, professional standards, and relevant healthcare laws to evaluate decision-making and propose appropriate nursing actions. The task aligns with Walden’s emphasis on ethical leadership, professional accountability, and patient-centered care.

Assessment Task

Select a real or realistic ethical and legal dilemma relevant to contemporary nursing practice and address the following components.

1. Description of the Ethical and Legal Issue
   • Clearly describe the practice dilemma.
   • Identify the stakeholders involved.
2. Ethical Analysis
   • Apply at least two ethical principles such as autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, or justice.
   • Explain how these principles inform decision-making.
3. Legal Considerations
   • Discuss relevant laws, regulations, or standards of care.
   • Address potential legal consequences for nurses or healthcare organizations.
4. Nursing Role and Professional Standards
   • Incorporate the ANA Code of Ethics or equivalent professional guidance.
   • Explain the nurse’s responsibility in managing the situation.
5. Recommendations for Practice
   • Propose evidence-informed actions to resolve or mitigate the dilemma.
   • Discuss implications for patient safety and quality of care.

Assignment Requirements

• Use a minimum of three peer-reviewed scholarly sources.
• Sources must be published within the last 5–7 years.
• Maintain a formal academic tone consistent with Walden writing standards.
• Follow APA 7 formatting and citation guidelines.

Scoring Rubric

Criterion	Exceeds Expectations	Meets Expectations	Approaches Expectations	Does Not Meet Expectations
Description of Issue	Clear, detailed, and contextually grounded	Clear and relevant	Partially developed	Unclear or inaccurate
Ethical Analysis	Insightful and well-applied principles	Appropriate application	Limited application	Incorrect or absent
Legal Considerations	Accurate and well-integrated	Relevant legal discussion	General legal references	No legal analysis
Professional Standards	Strong linkage to nursing codes	Adequate linkage	Minimal linkage	Not addressed
Academic Writing and APA	Error-free and scholarly	Minor errors	Frequent errors	Non-compliant

Patient refusal of life-sustaining treatment presents a recurring ethical and legal challenge in acute care settings. Respect for autonomy requires honoring informed refusal, while beneficence urges clinicians to preserve life when possible. Nurses must ensure that decision-making capacity is assessed and that documentation meets legal standards. Professional guidance emphasizes advocacy for patient preferences while maintaining compliance with state regulations and institutional policy (American Nurses Association, 2023, https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/).

Peer-Reviewed References

• American Nurses Association. (2023). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/ethics/
• Butts, J. B., & Rich, K. L. (2022). Nursing ethics: Across the curriculum and into practice (5th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
• Johnstone, M. J. (2019). Bioethics: A nursing perspective. Nursing Ethics, 26(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969733018792595
• Grace, P. J. (2018). Professional advocacy as a nursing ethics imperative. Nursing Ethics, 25(1), 11–24. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969733017709811