Does the health care organization have an ethical obligation to care for the patient, the employee, or both? Please defend your answer by citing at least one reference to the ANA code of ethics. (350 words, 10 pts)

It is the ethical duty of the healthcare provider to take care of both employees and patients. In accordance with the Code of Ethics of the American Nurses Association, all nurses, patients, and their colleagues, are expected to treat everyone in a compassionate, respectful manner (ANA 2015). The commitment also extends to healthcare organizations as a group, since they are responsible for creating an environment that promotes ethical behavior as well as providing a healthy and safe work place for their employees.

The ANA Code of Ethics emphasizes that it’s important to create a working environment that is supportive of the nurses. This includes addressing work hazards and ensuring they have resources available for their self-care. (ANA 2015) Not only is this important in terms of the treatment of staff, but it also impacts the care that patients receive. Burnout, overwork, inadequate funding, or underresourced nurses are more likely to make mistakes and provide poor quality care.

The healthcare provider also has an obligation under ethical principles to treat patients with compassion and respect. The healthcare organization must ensure patients get timely and appropriate treatment, their privacy is protected and they are treated well (ANA 2015). It is also important that the healthcare provider ensures that care provided to patients is in line with their beliefs and values and takes into account their spiritual and cultural needs.

Summary: The organization that provides healthcare has a moral obligation to take care of both employees and patients. In its Code of Ethics, the ANA stresses the need to create a work culture that promotes ethical behavior. It also emphasizes the need for nurses to be in a healthy and safe environment. In meeting these obligations healthcare organizations are able to provide high-quality patient care while supporting the wellbeing of their employees.

References:

American Nurses Association (2015). Interpretive Statements for the Code of Ethics for Nurses. Silver Spring: American Nurses Association.

Aiken, L. H., Sloane, D. M., Bruyneel, L., Van den Heede, K., Griffiths, P., Busse, R., … & Sermeus, W. (2014). A retrospective study of nurse staffing, education and mortality rates in hospitals across nine European countries. The Lancet 383(9931),1824-1830.